Security Recovers 10 Guns Stolen In Bundibugyo Attacks

Police say they have recovered 10 guns, 9 magazines and tear gas canisters stolen from them during the attack in Bundibugyo district on Saturday.

Perhaps what is more surprising is the manner in which the guns were recovered.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said that the joint security operation had setup reception centres and called on the local leaders and elders to encourage the attackers to return the guns.

After two days of the opening of the reception centres, the attackers have reportedly voluntarily returned 8 guns, bullets and teargas canisters.

Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) spokesperson Lt Col Paddy Ankunda sent a message on micro-blogging site, Twitter, that two more guns were recovered this afternoon.

Police and the army had lost a combined number of 22 rifles to attackers.

Enanga says they are hopeful that the attackers will return the remaining 11 guns to the reception centres with the increased pressure from both local leaders and joint force searches.

The security apparatus in western Uganda is still recovering from a wave of attacks on their installations by unknown attackers who were reportedly carrying machetes, spears and stones.

The attackers hit Bundibugyo police station, Kanyamwirima Barracks and a bank in Bundibugyo while in Kasese, a weigh bridge was attacked and a gun taken away from a police officer. Ninety three people were killed during the attack.

The President, Yoweri Museveni has publicly attributed the attacks to tribal clashes linked to Rwenzururu Kingdom.

Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere has publicly denied that his chiefdom is behind the attacks. Mumbere says a ‘few enemies’ of his chiefdom are behind the attacks with a motive of getting gov’t to abolish it.