Karimojong Warriors have vowed to attack security
Security personnel deployed to end the lawlessness in Karamoja region are wondering who could be behind the cattle rustlers who have reached to the level of sending letters to the security in advance about their planed attack on its detaches.
Security sources who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media said the rustlers have for a while now been sending letters to the detaches before they carry out attacks on them.
“Last month before the attack on Lokitelaebu ASTU detach in Kotido, the rustlers had dropped a letter at its quarter guard three days before they attacked the detach where one ASTU personnel was shot dead,” the source said.
On the warning letter, the chairperson of peace committee Kacheri sub County in Kotido district Mathew Lomokol said there could be high profile people in the security circle collaborating with the rustlers.
“What we have learnt is that there are some people who are educated supporting these raiders because the raiders do not know how to write or even to read but my question is, who writes for these raiders?” he asked.
According to Lomokol even them as the peace committee members have been receiving letters from the rustlers before they are attacked and even occasionally get killed.
“My colleague, Timothy Lokal who was killed in Panyangara last year was sent the letter before he was killed four days later, so this thing is real,” he said.
Micheal Longole, the Karamoja regional Police spokesperson said they have not received any hand written letters from rustlers apart from them receiving verble messages of their planed attacks which he said the joint security forces has been on high alert over throughout.
According to Longole, he really wishes the rustlers gets their public relations officers so that they speak what exactly do they want apart from raiding animals.
“We would love to know as security what’s their problem because they even attack people who do not have any single livestock,” he said
Betty Angolere another peace activist appealed to government to come up with as action plan to support the Karimojong reformed rusttlers.
“Governmnet needs to come up with a workable program for cattle rustlers because even those who have handed over their guns have not been supported so it becomes hard for others to hand over their guns and stop cattle rustling,” she said.
Simon Kotol another peace activist from Lorengedwat sub county in Nabilatuk distrct said they are also not safe as peace actors because the rustlers are targeting them for preaching about peace.
-URN
