Amudat District | THE BLACK EXAMINER | A collective of Pokot pastoralists from Amudat district in the Karamoja region is endeavoring to arrange a meeting with President Museveni to voice their discontent with the alleged mistreatment of Amudat residents by UPDF soldiers in Karamoja.
The pastoralists’ decision to approach President Museveni stems from two incidents in which UPDF soldiers reportedly shot and killed cows belonging to the Pokot community in grazing areas.
The initial occurrence transpired in September this year, wherein a UPDF soldier shot and killed 18 cows resting at a holding ground in Muruita sub-county, Nakapiripirit district. These cows, recovered from rustlers, were under army care while awaiting identification by their rightful owners. The soldier responsible was subsequently arrested and detained at the 3rd division headquarters in Moroto.
Despite the pastoralists’ unease following this incident, another episode unfolded on Tuesday, the 22nd of this month, in Naporokocha village, Karita sub-county, Amudat district. UPDF soldiers allegedly fired at animals, resulting in the death of 50 cows and injuries to over 70 others, without a clear justification.
While Major James Amuya, the UPDF 3rd division spokesperson, asserted in a press statement that the cows were casualties of a crossfire exchange between UPDF and Pokot rustlers, local leaders rejected this explanation, accusing the army of falsehoods.
Betty Chelain, the woman member of parliament for Amudat, dismissed the UPDF’s account and urged the army to escort local leaders to the alleged conflict site. She contested the claim, stating that soldiers shot at boys returning animals from a water source, rather than engaging in a legitimate firefight.
Ms. Betty recounted an incident where soldiers shot a cow giving birth, along with its calf. Expressing their frustration, Losia, a pastoralist who lost 10 cows, emphasized the need to meet President Museveni, threatening a reconsideration of their loyalty to the NRM if the issue remains unaddressed.
Another pastoralist, Mr. Lokwadou, expressed surprise at the army’s actions against the Pokot community, highlighting the urgency of meeting President Museveni to seek clarification on whether the Pokots are considered foreigners in their own country. He lamented the unexpected turn of events, wherein the army, instead of safeguarding their properties, is implicated in the destruction of their assets.
