In order to reduce cattle rustling, the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force (UPDF) has strengthened troop levels in each district of the Karamoja subregion.
This comes after the parliament passed a resolution requesting that the government immediately put an end to cattle rustling and restore tranquility, security, and stability in the Teso, Lango, Acholi, Karamoja, Bugisu, and Sebei subregions.
Between April and June 2022, the UPDF trained and distributed 11,449 Local Defense Forces, who were then deployed in Karamoja and the surrounding affected districts, according to State Minister for Defense Hon. Jacob Oboth.
“With the re-launch of Usalama kwa wote operations in July 2021, a total of 631 guns were recovered by May 2022 and the operation is ongoing,” Oboth said.
He also mentioned that on April 6, 2022, the governments of Kenya and Uganda signed a Memorandum of Understanding to fight the spread of small arms and transnational animal rustling.
The resolution also tasked the government to verify and pay compensation to Ugandans who have lost lives, livestock and property to cattle rustlers.
The Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, told Parliament that government is in the process of compensating for the cattle lost in Acholi, Lango and Teso sub-regions.
He said that 17,687 persons have so far been paid a total of Shs49.34 billion, with Shs654.29 million remaining unspent due to bounced payments.