Hundreds of Katakwi residents have asked the government to give them guns to defend themselves against Karamojong cattle raiders.
According to Jorem Elakara, the LC1 chairperson of Osema village, there is a poor linkage between security and residents, hence the rise in cattle theft.
Elakara revealed that the renewed clashes have so far left one person dead and hundreds of cows stolen in Katakwi and Amuria districts.
However, the UPDF 3rd division commander in the region said that they could not rearm locals that they have been urging to surrender arms. He said the security would handle the situation in collaboration with the residents.
In November last year, the residents staged a demonstration protesting persistent cattle raids by Karamojong rustlers.
John Steven Ekoom, the Katakwi Resident District Commissioner said that he has already communicated to the UPDF division commander to search for the missing cattle.