Karamajong warriors kill three gov't geologists, two UPDF soldiers
Security in Moroto district has kicked off a man hunt for people suspected to be cattle rustlers in the Karamoja area who are accused of having shot dead three geologists from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and two UPDF soldiers.
According to Mike Longole, the Mountain Moroto region police spokesperson, the incident happened on Monday, at Kubebe area, Lokisilei Parish in Lotisan Subcounty Moroto District when the three geologists were killed together with their army escorts.
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"The three officials were identified as Olweny Charles , Musiime Edina and Kigwe Richard all from the department of geology and mineral survey in the Ministry of Energy whereas the the two soldiers are yet to be identified. They were on mineral mapping exercise in the above area,"Longole said in a statement.
The area police spokesperson noted that after the incident, two guns belonging to the UPDF soldiers were also taken by the suspected cattle rustlers.
It is also noted that an interpreter who was with the group fled after the cattle rustlers started firing bullets that killed five people instantly.
"Joint security forces are committed in ensuring that the perpetrators of this incident are brought to book and two guns added to wrong hands will be recovered."
The development comes on the backdrop of a report by the UPDF 3rd division commander, Brig Joseph Balikuddembe who said security forces had registered success in disarming the Karamajong warriors.
He said 251 suspected cattle rustlers were killed last year in joint police and UPDF operations.
