Joint security forces and senior leaders in Karamoja Sub region have taken stock of the gains achieved over the past two months following the extension of the amnesty window during a security and community mobilization engagement that was held at Tapach Sub County, Katikekile Parish, Tepeth County in Moroto District.
“The general security situation in Karamoja region is relatively calm and for the past two months we have not had serious raids especially in North Karamoja that is; Kaabong, Kotido, Karenga and Abim which originally registered the biggest number of raids. The karachunas have totally embraced peace even to their neighbouring districts like Kitgum, Lira, Agago,” said Brigadier General Felix Busizoori, the 3 Infantry Division Deputy Commander.
He said that for the last three months they have recovered one hundred twelve (112) guns and called upon the karachunas to abandon the guns and embrace peace for the social economic transformation to prevail in Karamoja region.
Brig Gen Busizoori appealed to the community to desist from revenge and place that responsibility on security forces by availing them with timely necessary information and said “Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) is here to protect you and your property that’s why we have made deployments alongside the boarders and porus boarders from the Turkanas.”
He appealed to the community to refrain from charcoal burning as a result of cutting trees and embrace nature and seek for other methods of earning a living and also do away with ‘Etule’ a local brewery that is harmful to their health and the society.
As a symbol of Peace, five guns from Lokwang Lorengen (Mutia Village,Tapach Sub county), Lodim Longoria (Nakomoli-Usaret Village, Katikekile Parish), Lokamar Lorot (Natabakalejoi Village, Makwanga Parish), Lodim Angella (Longurepe Village, Kakingol Parish), Lorengedwat Lodim (Tapach Sub County, Katikekile parish) from Moroto District were voluntarily handed over to X-Ray Battalion in Loputuk Sub county under 403 Brigade.
On his part, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Francis Chemusto, the Mt Moroto Regional Police Commander said that the community mobilizations have done wonders for the Institution of Police because it’s a point where we are able to deliver what we feel can be some of the solutions to criminality in the region and for that matter we have strategically put across a lot of measures that include community mobilizations, intelligence led deployments, arrests of criminals etc and because of that there is some sanity of peace we are enjoying today.
Hon. Lokoru Albert, Member of Parliament for the Tepeth County acknowledged the peaceful co-existence between the Tepeth and their neighbours. He said that the people are happy following a meeting by the Karachunas in the month of July between the Pokots, Tepeth and Mathenikos where the Karachunas pledged to live harmoniously with their neighbours till date they are enjoying the resolutions that were laid during that dialogue peace meeting.
Mr. Tuko Justin, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner said that the community mobilization are yielding fruits and due to amnesty going on, most of the Karachunas are handing over the guns. “Today we have five of them who previously handed over their guns voluntarily and we are giving them certificates to act as an exhibit that they returned the guns voluntarily to UPDF.”
Present were, Col Richard Obuka Kidega, 403 Brigade Commander, the Joint security forces, Local Leaders and the Locals.
