The joint security forces in collaboration with senior leaders have recovered twelve (12) guns from Kaabong District alone, Karamoja Sub region in the last seven days of operations.
The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) 3rd Division Commander, Brig Gen Joseph Balikudembe has confirmed the weekly achievements.
“Within 7 days, we have managed to recover twelve guns from criminal elements in Kaabong District,” he said.
Brig Gen Balikudembe added: “Our forces are also hunting down criminal elements who had raided livestock from Turkana County, in the Republic of Kenya ”
He noted that both forceful and voluntary approaches bring a total to 626 and 4,023, guns and ammunition respectively and over 28,341 livestock recovered since July 2021, when the Operation was launched.
Gen Balikudembe, who has since pitch camped in Kaabong District to oversee and direct the operations, remains optimistic and committed that more recoveries of arms and livestock shall be made in order to enhance security.
The UPDF ‘s 3rd Division Commander commended the local leadership of Kaabong District for their positive efforts towards guns recovery from illegal hands.
He urged the local leaders to continue with mass mobilization and participation in the ongoing disarmament operations aimed at creating a more conducive environment within Kaabong District and Karamoja Sub region.
Gen Balikudembe asserted that some of the arrested suspects are subjected to further investigations and they will undergo through the processes of law to answer offences related to murder, illegal possession of firearms and livestock thefts.
Speaking at UPDF’s 45 Infantry Battalion headquarters, Lokut Mukasa Joseph, the vice Chairperson Kaabong District, emphasized the leadership’s positive participation.
“As a district we are mobilizing and sensitizing the communities against the dangers of illegal possession of guns,” he said.
Lukut said that the district leadership denounces all forms of armed criminality, and called on the cattle rustlers (warriors) to desist from the vice and hand over guns to security forces voluntarily.
Lt Col Gaston Mugarura, Commanding Officer, for the 45th Infantry Battalion whose area of responsibility, Kaabong District falls, reaffirmed the forces’ tempo and zeal in conducting the simultaneous cordon and search operations.
Most recently, the senior commanders and leaders met in Kaabong District where they drew a number of strategies to curb internal and cross border armed criminality.
As the rest of the areas are peaceful, Kaabong, Nabilatuk and Karenga Districts are on spot light, and currently the joint security forces are conducting operations.
The UPDF says that the joint security forces’ commanders and local leaders are more committed to consolidate relative security and peace in order to totally pacify the Karamoja Sub region.