ACHOLI YOUTH LEADERS WANT END TO CATTLE RUSTLING IN NORTHERN UGANDA

Komakech Jimmy

Gulu City

Some youth leaders in Acholi sub region are continuing to advocate for better ways to remedy cattle rustling in East Acholi and some parts of Karamoja Sub region.

Daniel Kitara Tolit, the youth councilor for Kitgum municipality said that the cattle rustling is exacerbating poverty in both Acholi and Karamoja subregions. “these two subregions have suffered immensely and they are still suffering, people cannot go to their gardens because of fearing to be attacked by the cattle rustlers and the fear that their animals would be taken away by the raiders if they leave them alone at home”, he stated.

Albino Okech, a youth from Agaago district expressed his dissatisfaction about the way security operatives are handling the cattle rustling challenge where the first son Muhoozi Kanairugaba deployed over 300 commandos but have not apprehended one. “I hear that the first son has deployed more than 300 trained commandos to deal with the challenge of cattle rustling but I`m wondering why none of the cattle rustlers has so far been arrested”, he said.

Fancy Shiela Aromorach from Nwoya district notes that it`s high time the government addresses the problem of cattle rustling in the country once and for all. “It appears as if the government has left Acholi and Karamoja subregions to die like someone who has fallen in a river calling for help but there is no one to come to their rescue.” “I urge the government to put in place some interventions to address the challenge”, she said.  

Vanessa Anyango, the female youth councilor for Pece-Laroo division in Gulu city stresses that the government should embark on removing guns from private hands and politicians should desist from politicizing issue of cattle rustling. “I implore government to remove guns from private hands and politicians must stop politicizing this matter”, she noted.

In his meeting with the regional leaders in Acholi and Lango in May this year, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said that they are going to use new measures to stop the cattle raids which among others will include using aircraft at night, drones, enough man power, and developing security roads. “Now we have new security commanders in affected regions to address the problem once and for all”, he remarked. “I have also directed the police force to have 18 personnel per sub-county, including 12 regular police officers and to help in intelligence”, he added.

The most affected areas include the districts of Otuke, Alebtong in Lango sub region, Kitgum, Lamwo, and Agago in Acholi sub-region.

COVER PHOTO: Acholi youth leaders deliberating on cattle rustling during the Sub National Youth Parliament in Gulu city Komakech Jimmy