Karimojong Steal 156 Cows From Katakwi
New Vision (Kampala)
February 17, 2003
Posted to the web February 17, 2003
Nathan Etengu
Kampala
SUSPECTED Bokora Karimojong on Thursday afternoon raided 156 head of cattle from Ongongoja sub-county, Katakwi district.
The resident district commissioner, Ndiwa Chemaswet, said the raid took place barely one week after the Bokora had given the people of Katakwi 229 head of cattle as a token of reconciliation.
Chemaswet said about 80 armed Karimojong attacked the area at about 4:00pm and made off with the cattle.
He said the residents had moved to a camp for internally displaced pesons.
"I have failed to understand the purpose of the reconciliation that the Bokora have been yearning for from Katakwi," Chemaswet said.
He said the raid had frustrated his earlier reconciliation efforts and those of the UPDF chief political commissar, Brigadier Kale Kaihura, to convince the residents of Katakwi to let the Karimojong graze and water their animals in the district.
"I was one of those who pleaded with the district leaders to allow the Bokora to graze their animals in the district but I have been let down," Chemaswet said in a telephone interview.
He said the sporadic gunfire by the raiders forced the civilians to flee.
He said the UPDF unit in Katakwi was too small to contain the situation.
"I have, however, been assured that the UPDF will pursue them and recover the animals," he said. Ends
