Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, traveled to Kitgum to address a rally regarding issues of security challenges that had surfaced in the area.
Upon arrival, he was informed about the security challenges in the area, including cattle rustling by the Karamojong and elephant invasions which destroy crops and cause fatalities to locals.
Gen Kainerugaba assured the hundreds that braved the Tuesday afternoon rain that the UPDF had been taking necessary measures to deal with the Karamojong warriors and weaken them.
The Gen was speaking to at Namakora Town Council where the people converged to listen to him. Residents from several parts of Acoli East including Mucwiny, Namakora and Omianyima among other areas attended the rally.
Brig Joseph Balikuddembe the UPDF Commander in the Karamoja (3Div) subregion also presented the numerous achievements of the operation, including the recovery of guns, prosecution of warriors, and the return of cows to their rightful owners.
'Those (commandoes) are very tough soldiers and you will see the results,' Gen Kainerugaba noted.
Additionally, Gen Kainerugaba said another battalion (800 soldiers) will be deployed in the affected areas to ensure proper security of people and their property.
The General also promised that commandoes would be deployed to the area to enhance the security situation, and air force capabilities would be redeployed to deal with the rustlers.
To tackle the issue of elephant invasions, the government was making plans for Kidepo to be fenced, and locals were advised to engage in beekeeping as a means of deterring elephants.
As the Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, Gen Kainerugaba announced that he will inform the President about compensating individuals who have been victims of rustling and elephant attacks.
Gen Kainerugaba who was in the area on the invitation of Hon Lillian Aber, the Kitgum Woman MP was welcomed by area leaders including State Minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Okello Oryem with whom they delivered cows to women's groups as a gesture to kickstart the compensation program for the families affected by rustling and elephant attacks.
The General stated that this is only the first step in decisively dealing with rustlers.
