Lamwo, UGANDA- At least 44 head of cattle have been reportedly raided from Lamwo District by suspected armed South Sudanese rustlers.
According to local leaders in the district, 37 head of cattle were taken from Agoro Sub-county on Sunday morning, while seven were taken from Lakiwula village in Madi-Opei Sub-county at about 4am on Monday.
Madi-Opei Sub-county chairperson Charles Obong Okwera confirmed the attacks to Daily Monitor in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
He noted that the yet to be identified cattle rustlers were armed with AK-47 assault rifles and are believed to have crossed from South Sudan.
“We got calls from residents in the morning about their missing cattle. We have dispatched our Anti-Stock Theft Unit to pursue the rustlers who are believed to be heading towards eastern Equatorial State in South Sudan,” Mr Okwera said.
Mr Okwera added that they also suspect some of the rustlers lawfully enter the district through the immigration points under the guise of doing business yet they had intentions of rustling cattle.He noted that Sudan People’s Liberation Army soldiers recovered 26 of the stolen cattle from the rustlers, who had already entered Ikotos County in South Sudan after a heavy gunfire exchange.
Lamwo Resident District Commissioner Jonathan Rutabingwa said security officials confirmed only 27 as the number of animals looted, although local leaders put the numbers at 44.
“The animals are being brought back and upon proper scrutiny, they will be handed over to the rightful owners,” Mr Rutabingwa said.
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