The army has said that the Ministry of Energy staff who were killed by suspected cattle rustlers in Karamoja had been assigned 40 armed soldiers.
On Monday, five people were killed in an ambush by suspected rustlers in Lotisan Sub County. The victims have been identified as Richard Kiggwe a geologist, Edina Musiime an intern from Makerere University, and Charles Olwenyi a local liaison officer. The identities of the UPDF soldiers are unknown. The geologists were carrying out geochemical sampling in Lotisan Sub County.
The UPDF 3rd Division Commander, Brig. Joseph Balikudembe, says that the geologists requested soldiers to escort them to the areas they intended to carry out their activities, a request he honored with 40 soldiers.
Balikudembe said he had already guided officials on their movements but unfortunately on their way they met the suspected warriors whose motive remains unknown. He says that during the attack, two guns were stolen.
Mike Longole, the Mt. Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson says they are investigating circumstances under which the officials were attacked while on duty.
But John Robert Adupa, the LCIII Chairperson Lotisan Sub County in Moroto says that leaders in the area were not informed about the activities of the geologists.
Last week leaders in the Karamoja sub-region appealed to the government to provide guns for each district for defense. The leaders said that since the government has failed to address the issues of insecurity, they can protect themselves than continue to lose lives and animals.
The police and army are implementing forceful disarmament through the cordon and search operations.
But the leaders in Karamoja are saying they have not seen the relevance of this exercise as insecurity escalates which has prompted them to think of rearming themselves for safety.
Police Spokesperson says they are investigating circumstances under
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