Empty Kraals, broken hopes after cattle raid in Yumbe

A Pastoralist grazing his cattle in Arua recently. In Yumbe, the Pastoralists have lost over 200 herds of cattle in a raid by South Sudanese (PHOTO BY FELIX WAROM OKELLO)

At sunrise in Kei Sub-county in Yumbe District, the silence around what used to be busy cattle kraals tells a painful story.
Where the sound of bells and mooing cattle once filled the air every morning, only empty enclosures remain, an ugly scene of a night raid that changed the lives of many families.

The latest raid reportedly occurred two weeks ago where more than 200 herds of cattle were reportedly rustled during a coordinated attack in Kei Sub-county and neighbouring Kochi Sub-county. 

The attackers, believed to be armed men from South Sudan, struck under the cover of darkness, firing gunshots that forced residents to flee their homes.

For many families in Yumbe District, cattle are not just livestock, they are a symbol of wealth, pride, and survival. They provide milk for children, income for daily needs, and school fees for education. 

In some of the affected families in Kei, farmers gathered around empty kraals the following morning, counting their losses. Some households reportedly lost their entire herds, wiping out years of investment.

A night of fear

Residents recall the terrifying moments when the raid unfolded. At around midnight, the sound of gunshots pierced the quiet night, sending panic through villages near the border.

“We heard gunshots and people shouting. We ran into the bush to hide,” Mr Alli Buga, a resident of Kei Sub-county, recounted the painful night to this publication on Sunday.

Mr Buga says several families reportedly lost their entire herds in the attack, leaving them uncertain about how they will survive in the coming months.

“Our family lost over 30 herds of cattle to the rustlers. We depend on cattle for milk, paying school fees and meeting family needs and losing them in one night is like losing everything,” he said.
He explained that none of their cattle have been recovered by the time of compiling the story.

Another victim, Mr Ismail Saidi, the deputy head teacher of Kena Valley Primary School reported that he lost 12 herds of cattle to the gunmen and none have been recovered.

“My uncle had been keeping my animals in Kei Sub-county. The months of March and April had been bad for me. Thieves also stole my motorcycle during the Ramadan period, and I had planned to sell some of the animals to buy a new motorcycle, but unfortunately, the animals have been raided,” he said.

Mr Saidi is doubtful whether the animals will be recovered, pleading that the security personnel should assist them and engage their counterparts in South Sudan.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/empty-kraals-broken-hopes-after-cattle-raid-in-yumbe-5429726#story