A mother in Nabilatuk District has voluntarily surrendered an illegal firearm and six rounds of ammunition allegedly belonging to her son, who is wanted by security forces over illegal possession of firearms.
The firearm, an SMG rifle, was handed to the police in the Mt. Moroto region, on Monday by Santina Achia, a resident of Ariamawoi Village in Nabilatuk Town Council. Her son, Michael Teko, is currently on the run.
Achia said security forces have been pursuing Teko for allegedly possessing an illegal firearm. She said her son went into hiding after learning that he was wanted, but she decided to surrender the weapon after discovering where he had hidden it.
“The security forces have been trailing him, and even he knows. That is why he has been hiding. But since I found the firearm where he had kept it, I could not keep quiet. It had to go,” Achia said.
Mike Longole, the Mt. Moroto Regional Police spokesperson, confirmed that Achia had handed over the weapon and commended her for what he described as a courageous and patriotic decision that contributes to efforts to restore peace and security in Karamoja.
Longole, however, said the voluntary surrender of the firearm does not stop the security operation against Teko, who remains wanted.
He said illegal firearms are often kept by individuals within communities, making public cooperation critical in efforts to recover the weapons and prevent their use in criminal activities and violence.
“We continue to appeal to the public, especially parents and community leaders, to persuade their children who are still in possession of illegal guns to surrender them voluntarily before they are apprehended,” Longole said.
The surrender comes amid continued security efforts in the Karamoja sub-region to recover illegal firearms and ammunition, which authorities have linked to insecurity and cattle-related violence in the area.
Police have continued to urge communities to provide information on individuals possessing illegal guns and to encourage them to surrender the weapons voluntarily-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
