A joint team of the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) and UPDF personnel has recovered an illegal SMG machine gun in Kalapata Town Council, Kaabong District, following an intelligence-led operation targeting armed criminals. The firearm, an SMG No. 49619 with no ammunition, was recovered on June 7, 2026, at around 1:00 p.m. in Moruedikai East Village, Kalapata Parish.
Police have linked the weapon to a suspect identified as Kasama Lokol Logira, a resident of the area who remains on the run. According to the Mt Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson, Mike Longole, the recovery followed the impoundment of 25 head of cattle belonging to the suspect and his relatives by a joint ASTU-UPDF operations team attached to Kaabong Central Police Station.
Longole said the cattle impoundment compelled the handover of the firearm to security forces through Lopech Jino, the LC3 Chairperson of Kalapata Town Council. “The impoundment compelled the handover of the weapon to joint security forces at Kalapata through Mr. Lopech Jino, LC3 Chairperson of Kalapata Town Council,” Longole said.
The recovered gun has since been secured for further management, while the impounded cattle have been returned to their rightful owners. Longole urged individuals still in possession of illegal firearms to voluntarily surrender them before security forces track them down. “We also encourage those still in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them voluntarily,” he said.
Although much of the Karamoja sub-region has experienced relative peace following ongoing disarmament efforts, Kaabong District continues to register isolated incidents of cattle theft and road ambushes. Authorities previously attributed most of the attacks to Turkana warriors from neighboring Kenya. However, recent investigations have revealed that some of the attacks are carried out by armed Karamojong warriors from Kaabong and Kotido districts.
Security officials say several warriors have ignored repeated calls to surrender illegal firearms and are instead using them to hunt wild animals at night. The game meat is then reportedly sold openly in trading centres across the region. The recovery marks another success for security agencies using cattle impoundment operations to compel the surrender of illegal weapons in Karamoja-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
