Major General Don Nabasa, the 3 Division Commander, has cautioned leaders against exerting pressure on security forces to release suspects arrested for criminal offenses. During a meeting in Amudat district on December 23, 2023, Maj Gen Nabasa highlighted instances where leaders had sought the release of criminals found in possession of firearms.
The meeting, attended by joint security forces and leaders from Amudat district and West Pokot in Kenya, addressed the surge in insecurity in Amudat. Maj Gen Nabasa linked the district’s insecurity to the killing of civilians, loss of livestock, and an ambush in August 2023 by Pokot warriors, resulting in the death of soldiers tracking raided livestock.
Maj Gen Nabasa urged the Pokot community, through their leaders, to utilize the Presidential amnesty to voluntarily surrender weapons in their possession. He emphasized that herders are allowed to graze animals as long as they are unarmed.
LCV Chairperson Amudat, Hon. Lobot Joseph Nangole, expressed concern about the porous border with Kenya, making it challenging to track and recover raided animals that cross into Kenya. MP Titus Lotee of Kacheliba Constituency (Kenya) appealed for peaceful coexistence, urging security to permit both Ugandan and Kenyan Pokot communities to graze their cattle freely in Uganda.
Resident District Commissioner Nakapiripirit, Mr. Okurut John Michael, stressed the importance of respecting territorial integrity and suggested the need for demarcation or regulation of grazing areas by the governments of Uganda and Kenya. He also emphasized the attendance of West Pokot security at security meetings, given instances of warriors killed during raids wearing Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) uniforms.
Key attendees at the meeting included Amudat Resident District Commissioner Mr. Owani George, Regional Police Commander South Karamoja ACP Francis Chemusto, 407 Brigade Commander Col Badru Lumumba, Woman Member of Parliament Amudat Hon. Chelain Betty, and Member of Parliament West Pokot, among other leaders.
