Joseph Ayolo, Kotido — A joint security team of ASTU and UPDF Victor Battalion has recovered a stolen PKM machine gun in Kacheri Town Council, Kotido District.
The dangerous weapon was recovered on Friday, 29th May 2026, at around 0703hrs.
Michael Longole, the Karamoja regional police spokesperson, said the firearm, a PKM No. 44219 with two rounds, was surrendered by a suspect identified as Ajie Lowali of Nakosoburin Village, Lokiding Parish, Kacheri Town Council, in Kotido District.
He said the recovery followed an intelligence-led operation conducted on 28th May 2026 in Nakosoburin Village, during which 102 head of cattle belonging to the community were impounded.
He said after security impounded their cattle, the suspect was forced to return the illegal weapon through Longoli Mark, former LC3 Chairperson of Kacheri Town Council, to the joint security forces.
According to Mr Longole, their preliminary findings indicate that the recovered PKM gun is suspected to have been stolen from one of the security detachments in Karenga District in 2025 and had been used in parts of Rengen, Lopuyo, and Kamor Sub-counties, mainly for poaching.
“After bringing the gun that we wanted, we gave them the 102 cattle that we had impounded, and we have since returned them to their rightful owners,” he said.
Mr Longole added that disarmament operations remain ongoing across the Karamoja sub-region.
“We thank the community for cooperating with security forces. We continue to urge all those in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them voluntarily or face the full force of the law,” he said.
Meanwhile, the general security situation in Karamoja is calm. What is now left in the region are petty animal thefts, which happen in any other part of the country.
