Courtesy pic of burnt guns in Karamoja
The Uganda military accompanied by police has dispersed a roadblock staged by Karimojongs over continuous raids of their animals and killings from people allegedly linked to the Pokot community.
Mike Longole the Moroto regional police spokesperson, said the locals staged the protest at Namalu town council, in Nakapiripirit district, to chase away the Pokot community who allegedly came from the Amudat district.
Karimojongs who described themselves as the Pian clan said the Pokot have continued raiding their cows yet they are grazing in their area. They also said the Pokot haven’t been disarmed by the military and police forces. The Pians have said Pokots are taking advantage of their taken-away arms to disturb them.
“Pokot have allegedly continued killing people from Pian. The Pian accuse their local leaders of misleading them to hand over guns to security forces in the ongoing disarmament operation,” Longole said.
0754649086
However, the joint forces responded timely and dispersed the angry mob. The forces removed the illegal roadblock that had been mounted by the angry mob at Namalu bridge. Longole said the situation was back to normal by Monday morning.
“The situation has calmed down and people have resumed their normal business. However, security forces are still on the ground monitoring the situation. We would like to inform the general community that, security forces will not allow any demonstration to occur which is likely to cause a breach of peace and create hatred and tribalism among the people,” the forces warned.
Karamoja sub-region has been infested with armed cattle raids that have left dozens of locals killed. Uganda’s leader, Yoweri Museveni, ordered the forceful disarmament operations dubbed Usalama Kwa Wote in July 2021 and so far, close to 700 warriors have been killed and more than 21000 arrested.
Military and police have also collected nearly 700 guns and hundreds of bullets from cattle rustlers commonly known as warriors. However, security has dismissed Pians’ claims that their local leaders misled them to hand over their weapons and that they are being exposed to the Pokots.
“Local leaders have never misled the community to return guns rather they have complimented the government program to support disarmament and create permanent peace in Karamoja,” Longole said.
Security has said they do not know tribes such as Pian or Pokot but their goal is to ensure that all citizens in the Karamoja sub-region have peace. Forces have said the small clan divisions have been the source of hatred amongst the Karimojong.
“Let us learn to stay in harmony with the neighbours and see each other as a brother and friends, not an enemy, as portrayed by today’s demonstration,” Longole said. The warriors have also killed a number of soldiers and police officers in the last two years.