UPDF recovers 50 guns from Karimojong warriors

UPDF soldiers look at some of the guns that the army recovered from the Karimojong warriors in Moroto last week. photo by Steven Ariong

What you need to know:

Capt Omara said the continuous recovery of guns and ammunitions is an indication that there are still illegal guns in the hands of the Karimojong warriors.

Moroto- The UPDF has recovered 50 guns and 300 bullets from Karimojong warriors in two sub-counties of Nadunget and Rupa in Moroto District. This was during the disarmament exercise in the last three months.

The UPDF 3rd Division spokesperson, Capt Jimmy Omara, said the weapons were recovered through forceful, cordon-and-search operations.

More illegal guns
Capt Omara said the continuous recovery of guns and ammunitions is an indication that there are still illegal guns in the hands of the Karimojong warriors.

He, however, said the number of guns being recovered in Karamoja has gone down because the UPDF and the Kenyan army have tightened security along the porous Kenya-Uganda and Uganda - Southern Sudan borders where the Karimojong warriors used to cross and access weapons.

According to Capt Omara, three years ago, the army used to recover between 2,000 and 10,000 bullets and more than 8,000 guns monthly from the Karimojong warriors.
“When you look at our statistics, we no longer recover a big number of guns and ammunitions from the the Karimojong warriors like the previous years when security was not as tight along Kenya-Uganda and Uganda Southern Sudan borders.

But since we tightened security along these borders, it is now hard for the Karimojong to cross to neighbouring countries and come back with guns,” Capt Omara said.

Capt Omara, however, said there are some cases where Karimojong Local Defence personals have lost their guns to the warriors.

He added that other warriors who are still keeping their guns do not have a chance to use them because they fear the army.

Illegal guns in Karamoja
Illegal guns. Last year, the UPDF 3rd Division Commander, Brig James Lakara Nakibus, during a meeting on Karamoja Integrated Development Project in Moroto, said a total of 9,000 illegal guns are still in the hands of Karimojong rustlers.

Recovery. In September last year, the UPDF recovered 124 guns and 1,600 bullets from Karimojong warriors. The arms and ammunition were recovered from Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Napak and Amudat districts during the disarmament exercise in the previous eight months.

According to the UPDF 3rd Division spokesperson, Lt Jimmy Omara, during the exercise, 16 warriors were killed and eight UPDF soldiers were wounded.