A young man is nursing critical injuries at Namokora Health Centre IV after suspected Karamojong raiders allegedly ambushed a group of youths in Orom Sub-county, Kitgum District.
John Bosco Ocen, the councilor V of Orom Sub-county, said that a group of youths were attacked by the suspected Karamojong cattle raiders at about 11pm on Tuesday, as they returned home after a monthly market, commonly known as auction.
He said one of the youths was shot with an arrow and remains in critical condition.
“We appreciate the efforts of the security departments, but the issue of the Karamojong remains a concern. Yesterday at around 11pm, they came and ambushed a group of young boys as they were walking back home and shot one, who is still in critical condition but is being managed at Namokora Health Centre IV,” Ocen said.
Jimmy Segawa Ebil, the RDC of Kitgum, and chairperson of the district security committee, acknowledged and condemned the attack, but stressed that security operations had largely contained the raids, particularly along the affected axis.
Ebil revealed that security forces had killed nearly 20 suspected Karamojong raiders in the past year through joint operations involving the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and other security agencies.
“As a matter of fact, I don’t want to gloat about this, but we’ve taken close to 20 out of action within a space of about one year in that axis, and that’s why it is quiet,” he said.
Ebil said security operations were continuing, with two suspected raiders killed earlier in the week and another two the previous week.
He said the security situation was particularly worrying when he assumed office in September 2022, when communities in the affected areas frequently reported attacks attributed to Karamojong raiders.
Ebil attributed the reduction in attacks to sustained joint security operations and said the district had also been directed to address Karamojong raids under Executive Order No. 3 issued by President Yoweri Museveni in 2023-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
