Joint security forces in Kotido have launched a manhunt for suspected rustlers behind the killing of one child and injuring of two others. The suspected rustlers opened fire at the minors in Nakwangamoru village in Lokitelaebu in Kotido district around 1 pm on Sunday.
Kotido Resident District Commissioner, Ambrose Onoria has described the incident as unfortunate. According to Onoria, the rustlers vanished into the bushes after shooting the minors. Onoria explains that the minors fell in an ambush while returning from their home in Toroma in Katakwi district on a motorcycle.
“These children were coming back to school from Toroma sub-county in Katakwi district and they were going back to Nakoreto primary school but they met with warriors who shot at them,” he said. According to Onoria, the injured pupils are hospitalised at Kotido hospital while the deceased’s body was returned to Toroma for burial.
Onoria has cautioned the public against using motorcycles, saying the rustlers target people riding on motorcycles. “People should accept to use public means and stop using motorcycles for now because it is dangerous,” he said. Joseph Komol, the Kotido district LC V chairperson has condemned the attack on the pupils, saying that rustlers have not felt the impact of the joint security operations.
“Why kill pupils really? These are criminals that must be dealt with,” he said. Major Moses Muya, the acting UPDF 3rd Division spokesperson, says that joint security forces are currently hunting for the killers to face justice. He says that the attacks are kicks of a dying horse, saying security will not leave any stone unturned.
