Suspected South Sudanese rustlers kill one, loot animals in Lamwo

The Ugandan and South Sudan governments have previously agreed to jointly fight cattle rustling by armed South Sudanese, who periodically raid Lamwo District

In Summary
The district is a hot-spot for cattle rustling carried by South Sudanese rustlers from the neighboring Ikotos county in Torit state.

In May this year, President Museveni while addressing locals in Atiak Sub-county said the army will recruit Local Defence Unit Soldiers to help in beefing up security at Uganda-South Sudan borders.

GULU.

Suspected armed South Sudanese rustlers have shot dead a local farmer in Lamwo district before looting his animals, security officials have reported.

The deceased, identified as Johnson Olweny 45, a resident of Lutuko village in Lawiye-Oduny parish, Madi Opei Sub-County was reportedly shot dead from his garden on Saturday morning while grazing his animals.

The Lamwo Resident District Commissioner Mr Jonathan Rutabingwa told Daily Monitor that the suspected rustlers after killing the farmer looted six cattle and fled with them to Torit state in South Sudan.

He noted that the gunmen sneaked into Uganda through the porous boundary corridors between Agoro and Madi-Opei Sub-Counties neighboring the war torn South Sudan.

Mr Rutabingwa said they are already in contact with the political and security officials in Torit state and Ikotos county to help in apprehending the suspects behind the attack and recovery of the stolen cattle.

The fourth Infantry Division Spokesperson Maj Telesphor Turyamumanya told Daily Monitor Sunday that security forces comprising of the Police Anti Stock Theft Unit and Uganda People’s Defense [UPDF] Soldiers were able to repulse the attackers before they wrecked serious havoc.

"Our security personnel exchanged gunfire with the suspects after their invasion. we defeated them and repulsed them back to South Sudan Territory," Maj Turyamumanya said.

He said security personnel have been deployed along the border points to avoid repeat of the incident.

Maj Turyamumanya however noted that incidences of cattle rustlers invading Lamwo district are being facilitated by the porous boundary between Uganda and South Sudan.

This is the second incidence in less than a year that armed South Sudanese gunmen have invaded and killed a farmer in Madi-Opei Sub-county.

In September last year, Mr Bosco Okwera 46, a local farmer in Lutuko village, Lawiye Oduny Parish was gunned down by suspected South Sudanese gunmen about seven kilometers from the immigration offices at the Uganda-South Sudan border.

The district is a hot-spot for cattle rustling carried by South Sudanese rustlers from the neighboring Ikotos county in Torit state.

In May this year, President Museveni while addressing locals in Atiak Sub-county said the army will recruit Local Defence Unit Soldiers to help in beefing up security at Uganda-South Sudan borders.