Amudat, Uganda: The relationship between UPDF soldiers and the Pokot pastoralists in Amudat district, Karamoja region, is deteriorating due to continuous shootings of cattle and civilians by the forces.
Despite UPDF claims that the shootings resulted from fire exchanges, the local community and their leaders refute the assertion, alleging that UPDF is directly killing unarmed people and their livestock.
The first incident occurred in November, where a UPDF soldier attached to the 51st battalion shot dead 30 cows and injured another 30 in Kokumoi village, Naborokoca parish, Karita sub-county in Amudat district.
The second incident happened on September 17th last year, where another soldier shot dead 18 cows resting inside the holding ground in Moruita sub-county, Nakapiripirit district.
The third incident involved soldiers torching houses in Lemusui village during cordon and search operations.
The recent incident involved a soldier shooting dead a man grazing his livestock in Karita sub-county, Amudat district.
The UPDF authority claims that all these incidents occurred during fights between armed Pokots and UPDF soldiers.
However, the woman member of parliament for Amudat district, Ms. Betty Chelain Louke, alleges that soldiers under the command of the newly deployed division commander, Major Gen Don William Nabasa, have a specific motive to wipe out all the Pokots in Uganda.
“We have asked them to show us soldiers injured in that battle, nothing. These soldiers, I think, have a shot-to-kill motive against all unarmed Pokot pastoralists,” she said.
Ms. Betty, while not condoning criminality, argues that all the incidents in Amudat are not related to the army’s claimed fighting.
“Look at the cows that the soldier killed in Moruita holding ground in broad daylight; was that fighting? Look at the cows soldiers shot dead in Karita watering point in broad daylight; was that fighting? Look at the houses burnt in Lemusui in broad daylight; was that a fight? Now, the killing of our Lc1 who was grazing his cows in Karita; was that fighting? The army leadership should learn to tell the truth; otherwise, we are tired of burying our people killed by the army that is supposed to protect them,” she said.
Mr. Ruto Losia, one of the residents, wonders why the president has remained silent while his soldiers are killing them.
“If the army wants land in Pokot, why not be open to us instead of killing us and labeling us as criminals?” he said.
Mr. Losia notes that Amudat district is the only peaceful district where people move freely and even sleep on the way without being attacked, compared to other Karamoja districts.
He points out that Karimojong warriors from Kotido and Kaabong have been ambushing vehicles and shooting at them, but the army has failed to bring sanity there, instead focusing on killing Pokots who do not engage in such attacks.
Story by Richard Ayolo, of The Ankole Times
