How Suspected Cattle Rustlers Killed Gov’t Geologists, UPDF Soldiers
Some of the Deceased
Joint Security forces in the Northern District of Moroto has embarked on a man hunt for suspected cattle rustlers in the Karamoja area who are accused of having shot dead three geologists from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and two Uganda People’s Defence Force(UPDF) soldiers.
The incident happened on Monday at Kubebe area, Lokisilei Parish in Lotisan Subcounty Moroto District when the three geologists were killed together with their army escorts, according to Mike Longole, the Mountain Moroto region police spokesperson.
“The three officials were identified as Olweny Charles , Musiime Edina and Kigwe Richard all from the department of geology and mineral survey in the Ministry of Energy whereas the the two soldiers are yet to be identified. They were on mineral mapping exercise in the above area, ”Longole said in a statement.
The Police say that after the incident, two guns belonging to the UPDF soldiers were also taken by the suspected cattle rustlers.
The group, which had gone to do a mineral mapping survey, included a Makerere University student, who was doing her internship with the ministry. Security in Karamoja has significantly deteriorated at the hands of armed cattle rustlers that have recently killed a number of people.
The Police say that the bodies were recovered by security personnel and have been taken to Moroto Regional Referral Hospital.
The UPDF 3rd Division recently said they recovered weapons following gunfire exchange between cattle rustlers and UPDF soldiers and through the cordon and search operations across Karamoja Sub-region.
It is alleged that the Karimojong still hide guns.
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