A suspected warrior has been shot dead and a UPDF soldier injured in a fierce gun battle between cattle rustlers and the army in Amudat. The fighting broke out on Tuesday evening at Jumbe village when armed warriors tried to raid over 600 heads of cattle. David Okello, Amudat District Internal Security Officer says that the rustlers intercepted the cows at around 5pm when they were returning to the Kraal.
He says that army opened fire killing one of the rustlers forcing the others to flee for their lives. Okello says that apart for the UPDF soldier who was injured the clash, the herdsmen escaped unhurt. The injured soldier whose identity was not readily established is admitted at Matany Hospital. Okello says a joint force of the police and army is trailing the suspected Matheniko warriors from Moroto district.
He explains that the army had received prior information from their counterparts in Moroto of the planned raid on some of the kraals in North Amudat district. Nahaman Ojwee, Moroto Resident District Commissioner says that over 50 rustlers armed with guns and sticks went to the neighboring district.
Ojwee appeals to the kraal leaders to caution their sons against rustling since their movements can now be monitored. He advises the youth to engage in developmental activities that can improve their lives. In a related development, UPDF is hunting for suspected Pian warriors who tried to raid cows in Looro, North West of Amudat district on Tuesday morning but were repulsed by the army.
Edward Natukunda, the acting UPDF 3rd Division spokesperson says the rustlers were intercepted after grabbing unspecified number of cattle. He says one rustler was injured during a shoot-out by the army. Natukunda says the army has deployed along the Nakapiripirit-Moroto district border to hunt for the scattered warriors.
