The Usuk County Member of Parliament Peter Ogwang has called for more security deployment at the borders of Napak and Katakwi districts in the wake of an ongoing conflict between Karimojong and Itesots.
On Sunday, a group of Karamojongs organised and attacked some sub-counties in Katakwi district where they burnt houses and raided cattle, leaving over 500 people without food and shelter.
This followed a recent demarcation of boundaries of Nepak and Katakwi as well as of the Karamoja and Teso Sub-regions.
Ogwang who was addressing journalists at Parliament on Tuesday said that it is high time for the government to deploy Uganda Peoples Defence Forces since the Local Defences have failed to protect the natives.
“I am still surprised and shocked as to why and what is happening. Yesterday (Monday), I received calls from the community along the border that a group of Karamojongs had raided the area burnt their houses, stole their cattle, destroyed their crops and chased them away,” he said adding that the situation is now sad.
“As the leaders of the area we now are appealing to the UPDF leadership to deploy soldiers at the borders of the two districts because currently, the security presence is too weak,” said Ogwanga.
He also blamed the attack on ignorant leaders who just want to influence innocent people into war against their fellow Ugandans.
“In this 21st century, I don’t expect to see such things happening. However, as leaders, we have come out with the solution that if the army, LCIIs and the Local Defence are failing to protect our people we can now defend ourselves. We can ask the government to withdraw them and we fight for ourselves,” he cautioned
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