Small-scale, revenge-driven cattle raids have resurfaced in South Karamoja, with communities shifting from large-scale kraal attacks to targeted thefts involving between three and ten animals. Local leaders warn that the trend could undermine years of peace efforts if security forces do not intervene quickly.
The renewed raids are taking place along ethnic lines, with communities in Matheniko, Moroto District, accusing the Bokora of Napak District of carrying out attacks, while the Bokora accuse the Pian of Nabilatuk District of terrorising them. The raids have mainly concentrated around Napak Mountain and other border areas. Joseph Otita, the LCIII Chairperson of Rupa Sub-county, confirmed ongoing cattle thefts between the Matheniko and Bokora communities.
He said warriors are using illegal firearms during raids, although no shooting incident has been reported so far. “Although theft is now limited to about two to three cattle, it should not be undermined because it can easily escalate and the situation gets worse,” Otita said. He urged the UPDF to intensify disarmament operations targeting criminals still in possession of illegal guns, saying they are responsible for renewing attacks. Otita said peace meetings between the Matheniko of Moroto and the Bokora of Napak have started to address gaps contributing to the resurgence of insecurity.
Simon Peter Lotem, LCIII Chairperson of Nadunget Sub-county, said ten cases of cattle theft were recorded between May and June, with only six cows successfully recovered. He said another raid occurred two days ago, with raiders being tracked to Matany Town Council before disappearing. Residents in the area denied seeing the suspects.
Lotem said a security meeting with Bokora leaders tasked them with producing stolen cattle and identifying the raiders. Although the Bokora agreed to cooperate, he said thefts have continued without tangible results. He added that warriors are now using motorcycles to monitor kraals before carrying out night raids. Several reports have been submitted to security forces, but no intervention has been made so far.
John Lomuria, a resident of Kautakou Village in Ngoleriet Sub-county, said revenge thefts have persisted and could worsen due to crop failure and hunger. He warned that warriors who refused to surrender firearms may now be using them to steal cattle.
“If the situation is not handled urgently, other community members might be provoked to acquire guns in the name of protecting their cattle but also for revenge attacks,” Lomuria said. He urged security agencies to act early, noting that insecurity in Karamoja often begins with isolated incidents before escalating.
While Matheniko accuses Bokora warriors of carrying out raids, the Bokora say they are being attacked by armed Pian warriors from Kosike Sub-county in Nabilatuk District.
The warriors are allegedly hiding around Napak Mountain while carrying out raids in Lokopo, Lorengecora, Napak Town Council, and Matany areas. Jacob Lochoro, LCIII Chairperson of Napak Town Council, said tensions between the Bokora and Pian communities remain high. He said raids have shifted to border areas after security operations intensified around Napak Mountain.
Footprints from stolen animals reportedly lead towards Lopei, Lokiteded, and Nachora. Lochoro said local leaders are pushing for a military detachment around Korisai Village, which has become a suspected crossing point for warriors. He suspects food insecurity is among the drivers of the raids, with idle youth turning to cattle theft due to a lack of food.
Thomas Otim Loukwae, Napak District councillor for Lokopo Sub-county, said raids against the Bokora are carried out by Pian warriors from Nabilatuk and Jie warriors from Kotido almost every night. He said footprints from raided cattle often lead towards Kosike Sub-county.
The latest raid occurred on Friday night when seven cows were stolen, although only two were recovered after the trail entered Kosike. Loukwae said some warriors are working with community members to carry out attacks and that seven separate raids have been recorded, with stolen cattle rarely recovered.
He called on security forces to conduct cordon and search operations in Kosike and other areas suspected of harbouring armed warriors. Mike Longole, the Mt. Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson, said police had not yet received official reports of cattle theft but confirmed that operations against illegal firearms were ongoing. He said any thefts taking place were minimal and being closely monitored.
Longole blamed some local leaders for attempting to track stolen cattle without involving security agencies, warning that the practice exposes them to danger from armed warriors. He said Napak has not experienced serious raids except in areas bordering Teso, where more cattle thefts involving suspected Karamojong warriors have been reported. “We will remain monitoring the security situation and shall not allow it to slide back after a long struggle to regain peace,” Longole said.
Local leaders agree that the shift to small-scale, revenge-driven raids signals a fragile peace in South Karamoja. They say hunger, idle youth, and illegal firearms remain major threats and that urgent disarmament, and community policing efforts are needed to prevent isolated thefts from escalating into large-scale cattle raids again-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
