UPDF Soldiers last night shot and killed a local sub county vice chairman in Kotido district, who was reportedly caught leading a cattle raid.
The deceased was identified by officials as Aped Longoli, who has been serving as the Vice-chairman of Napumpum sub-county.
Chris Magezi, the UPDF Land Forces spokesman says Longoli was gunned down “while leading a cattle raid into Napak District.”
Longoli, according to Magezi, is only one of many other local leaders in Karamoja who are actively involved in the cattle rustling.
“He (Langoli) is the one who has been condemning UPDF for not doing enough to stop cattle rustling in Karamoja during the day and then leading cattle raids at night,” Magezi said.
The development comes on the back of increased cases of cattle rustling in the Karamoja region.
In recent months, cattle rustlers, especially the Pokot and Matheniko from Kenya have intensified violent attacks in the Northern districts of Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Napak, Kapelabyong, Kabong and Abim, killing people and looting their animals.
Hundreds have been forced to flee their villages.
The UPDF has killed hundreds of Karamojong warriors since the launch of military operation Usalama Kwa Wote in the north eastern part of Uganda in July 2021.
UPDF spokesperson Brig Felix Kulayigye recently said the armed forces had so far recovered 184 guns, 2,352 rounds of ammunition, and 17,186 livestock from the warriors.
