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Illegal guns fueling killings in Karamoja – RDC

FILE PHOTO: Guns in Karamoja

Abim, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Abim says the high incidents leading to death by shooting in the district are fueled by armed Karimojong warriors who continuously attack to steal cows.

Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka says that the armed Karamojong mainly from Kotido turn their guns on civilians along the cattle corridors leading to several killings by shooting in the process of theft of cattle.

According to the annual crime report released by Police on Tuesday, Kidepo region – that comprises Abim, Kotido, Kaabong and Karenga topped countrywide with a total of 22 deaths by shooting in the year 2019.

Abim district leads with 10 deaths reported. Katwe and Kiira divisions followed in second and third positions respectively while Kaabong ranked fourth in the national crime report on death by shooting with six incidents.

Other districts that recorded high numbers of death by shooting include; Kotido, Nabilatuk and Moroto that recorded 5 deaths each. Mbarara, Kajansi division and Kisoro in western Uganda each registered 5 cases of deaths by shooting.

The report does not explain the causes of the killings but according to the Abim RDC  Hashaka, the killings in Kidepo region are due to civilian attacks on armed warriors.

The Kotido RDC Peter Logiro also says armed conflict by cattle rustlers was the main cause of killings by shooting in his district.

The report says a total of 181 people were killed by shooting countrywide in the year 2019. Of these 108 cases are still under inquiry, 43 were taken to court and 30 were not detected. The report indicates that 37 cases are still pending in the courts of law related to death by shooting while six have been sentenced.

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