By KT Reporter
Ten pastoralists are nursing injuries at Moroto Regional Referral Hospital following a violent assault by unknown individuals in Kautakou Village, Ngoleriet Sub-county, Napak District. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon at a grazing ground in Kautakou Village, where pastoralists from the Bokora community in Napak and the Matheniko of Moroto were grazing their livestock together.
It is reported that six cows belonging to an elder identified as Kwai Kwai from Kautakou went missing. Kwai Kwai later found the cows grazing at a different location where pastoralists from Nadunget were also herding their animals. While the elder approached the area using a separate route, a group from his village assumed the cows had been lured by the Nadunget herders and began tracking them.
Upon finding eight boys aged between 10 and 13 from Nadunget grazing their cattle, the group allegedly assaulted the children while demanding information about the missing cows. The boys sustained injuries and returned home, prompting their parents—identified as Lomer and Lolep from Lokelala Village, Nadunget Sub-county—to seek an explanation. When the parents arrived in Kautakou, the group reportedly regrouped and attacked them using pangas and metallic objects.
Simon Peter Lotem, the LC3 Chairperson of Nadunget Sub-county, confirmed the incident. He stated that one of the parents had an ear chopped off while the other suffered severe injuries from blunt objects. All the victims are currently admitted to Moroto Regional Referral Hospital, where the children are responding to treatment, but the parents remain in critical condition. Lotem said the families of the suspects have since apologized during a Saturday meeting with the Bokora community, though the suspects remain at large.
He added that joint security forces have been deployed to track down the assailants and bring them to justice. “The owner of the cows was also surprised by the attack, as the boys were simply grazing their cattle without any malicious intent,” Lotem said. He warned that failure to address the matter could lead to renewed insecurity as residents may seek revenge. He urged local leaders to promote peaceful coexistence among herding communities and called on security forces in Napak to support efforts to arrest the suspects.
John Lokol, a resident of Nadunget Trading Centre, also appealed to security to expedite the search for the suspects. He warned that the attack risks disrupting the region’s fragile peace, which had enabled communities to resume cultivation with the return of the rains.
Justin Tuko, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Moroto, condemned the attack and assured the public that authorities are working to apprehend the perpetrators. “This is a hard-earned peace that we shall not allow anyone to reverse. We are now looking forward to strengthening it to pave the way for development,” Tuko said.
The region has previously suffered similar tragedies. In 2021, a mob in Napak lynched a renowned Karamojong elder, Mariko Abura Apanaluk, his son Angolere Lokut, and a local defense unit personnel attached to the Duol army detachment. The three were tracking 20 stolen cows but were mistaken for thieves and killed. Apanaluk left behind 54 widows, 187 children, 116 grandchildren, and more than 2,000 head of cattle-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
