My life as a cattle rustler

John Michael Angaun abandoned home in Kangole, Napak District, at the age of 13. Angaun spent most of his time in the wildness as part of a criminal gang raiding cattle from the neighbouring districts and ambushing vehicles whose occupants would be killed and their belongings taken.
After a few years, he created his own gang which he led to many successful raids. His gang’s first, was in Turkana, Kenya and it was successful; he raided 200 head of cattle that he sold and crossed to South Sudan to buy more strong weapons.
He brought new weapons which he did not use for a while. Later, he gave them to other warriors in his gang and they raided again in Turkana.
“I remember it was a Saturday when I went with a group of 15 warriors to steal cattle for the second time in Longorikipi grazing area in Turkana,” he recalls. “It was tough this time round! We raided 100 head of cattle but as we returned, we fell into an ambush by UPDF soldiers. It was a tough battle! We fought with the soldiers for about four hours and killed 12 of them. I also lost 10 of my colleagues,” he narrates.
He says the animals got scattered and he fled with three surviving colleagues when the army brought a helicopter to look for them.

Turning point
That fight was a turning point for the warrior. Angaun was following that battle, put in position under number one of the army list of most wanted warriors.
“The army launched a manhunt for me, so I fled into the mountain. I lived on top of Mount Moroto for about two years as my relatives continued talking to the army to pardon me,” he says.
Tired of living in the mountain and no longer interested in continuing with his criminal life, Angaun, one day returned to his village. He was, however, uncomfortable since he was still on the army’s wanted list. His neighbours in the community were not free with him because of his bad reputation. They were not sure whether he had changed or was still a brigand.
“What I did to gain some trust from the community and the army was to give up the last gun that I had buried somewhere at my father’s home before I went into the wildness. I gave it to the area LC 1 chairman who forwarded it to the army,” he recalls.
He says after his gun was taken to the local army detach by his LC1 chairman, to his relief he was not arrested. Instead the army tasked his neighbours to monitor his movements to ascertain whether he was still engaged in the same activities.
It was not necessary. Angaun was reformed. He started moving around the village, even going to the trading centre which he had not visited in many years.
“When I realised that I was somehow free, I joined the group of youth who were making bricks for sale but it was a difficult job. I was not used to such activities,” he reminisces.
He also tried his hand at charcoal burning to earn a living but it was difficult work as well.

Music his saviour
Soon he found his true calling – music. He also adopted a stage name – Original Lopeta.
It is now seven years since he turned to singing for a living and music has enabled him to put food on the table and keep out of trouble.
“What I’m getting from music is much more than what I used to get through killing people. I regret the time I wasted in the bush; if I had been in music I would also be rich like Chameleone,” he muses.
Capt Isac Oware, the UPDF 3rd Division spokesperson, knew Angaun as a notorious warrior who used to terrorise Karamoja and neighbouring regions.
“When he realised that UPDF was not giving up on him, he decided to surrender through the local leaders and now he’s one of the best reformed warrior,” Capt Oware says.
Angaun who – ironically never attended school at all – focused his first song Education is the only key to success in life no need to raid on education. The song earned him a lot of money from many, including the UPDF that once hunted him. They used the song to attract other cattle rustlers who were still hiding with guns in the bushes. Many surrendered.
“My music drew many warriors from the bush and I recovered about 20 guns that I gave to UPDF. Now I’m a champion of music in Karamoja,” he says confidently.
Music has brought unexpected success beyond his wildest imagination. With at least 20 songs to his name, he is now feted and recognised across region as a peace ambassador. He says his music has sold him to other countries including Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan and Ethiopia rallying for peace. “I am now free with the army; we share an dining table and I have bought my plot [of land]. Next year, I will begin constructing my permanent house,” he says, adding that what made him become wild, rustle cattle and ambush vehicles was the craving for wealth which he believed would earn him respect from the elders and his counterparts. He has now also settled as a family man; he married last year and is looking forward to raising a family.

Does his past haunt him?
Well, Angaun is now sending his apology message to all the districts he raided cattle from and killed people to forgive him, saying he did not know what he was doing.
“I send my sincere apologies to the families that lost their dear ones when I was still a cattle rustler. I’m sorry I did not know what I was doing and I also want to thank President Museveni and his commanders, especially the late Brig Patrick Kankiriho who was the 3rd Division commander for giving me and my team amnesty. I didn’t expect it!” he says.
Recently, Angaun also known as, Original Lopeta and his team launched an album praising Kankiriho for giving them amnesty.