Katumba orders UPDF on Turkana in Karamoja
What you need to know:
- Disobidient. Gen Katumba noted that Turkana pastoralists have consistently defied cross border rules banning them from crossing into Uganda with firearms.
Karamoja.
The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Katumba Wamala, has directed the UPDF 3rd and 5th Division commanders in Karamoja sub-region to spearhead an operation to flush out all armed Turkana pastoralists he accused of selling guns illegally in Karamoja.
In a radio call message sent out to the two Divisions that border Turkana in Kenya, Gen Katumba noted that Turkana pastoralists have consistently defied cross-border rules prohibiting them from crossing into Uganda with firearms.
Confirmation
Capt Isaac Owera, the UPDF 3rd Division spokesperson and Lt Edward Birungi, the spokesperson of the UPDF 5th Division, both confirmed receiving the directive saying they were ready to implement the operation.
Lt Birungi said the Turkana pastoralists had become defiant and insolent to Ugandan security personnel.
Referring to last week’s incident where Turkana pastoralists engaged in a gun battle with the soldiers who had gone to disarm some of them in Kamion Sub-county in Kaabong District, Gen Wamala said they will not tolerate insubordination.
Lt Birungi said the army killed two of the armed Turkanas and recovered three AK-47 sub-machine guns.
“We are ready to flush them out of Uganda because they are now ferrying guns into the country,” he said.
The Turkana are Kenya’s second largest pastoralist group and keep crossing into Karamoja region in search of water and pasture. The region is currently host to about 50,000 Turkana pastoralists who entered the country with more than 90,000 livestock following the persistent drought in Turkana County in Kenya.
They are currently grazing in the areas of Kobebe in Moroto, Loyoro, Kamion and Kalapata in Kaabong District.
During Tarehe Sita celebrations in Moroto District in February last year, President Museveni said Kenyan Turkana and Pokot pastoralists were free to cross into Uganda to graze their animals on condition that they are not armed. “I have no problem with the Turkana and Pokot pastoralists crossing into Uganda to graze, but they should not dare to come with arms,” he said.
The president also warned that he will not tolerate people with intentions of destabilising the peace achieved in Karamoja region since government successfully disarmed Karamojong cattle rustlers.
