At least 4,058 suspected cattle rustlers have been arrested in the Karamoja region over the last 14days in operations mounted by officers of the Anti Shock Theft Unit (ASTU) of Police and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
The search and cordon operation that ensued on May 16th 2022 has seen recovery of 53 guns and 204 rounds of ammunition according to Micheal Longole who is the Karamoja Regional Police Spokesperson.
According to regional police 2,763 of the arrested who are mainly juveniles have been released after thorough screening, 737 arraigned in court and 550 remain in custody at different detention facilities.
Despite deployment of about 8,000 UPDF and ASTU personnel, a ambushing of vehicles and raiding of animals continues in the region.
Police on Friday reported another incident where suspected rustlers shot at a car belonging to Kotido Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Joseph Lomongin, no one sustained any injuries.
Earlier this month, President Yoweri Museveni vowed to crackdown on cattle rustlers in Karamoja and make them ‘lose appetite’ for the gun.
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