Authorities in Lamwo district have urged the district to provide tight security for farmers whose farming activities are at the moment being affected by cattle rustlers’ invading the district from neighboring South Sudan.
Last week, authorities reported six cattle were looted by rustlers in Okol Parish, Madiopei Sub County by unidentified cattle rustlers suspected to have made their ways through the porous border line between Uganda and South Sudan.
Although the cattle were recovered after security intensified pursuit after the rustlers, farmers have since abandoned opening their farmlands using oxen fearing their cattle will be looted.
LCIII Chairperson Madi-Opei Sub-county Mr Charles Obong Okwera revealed to Acholi Times in an interview over the weekend that the incidences of cattle rustling in the area have since forced farmers to abandon the use of cattle for ploughing their farmlands.
“Our people are living in fear at the moment, others have abandoned farming fearing they may be attacked by rustlers while some are daring to use hoes to open up huge chunks of land because they fear using cattle which attracts the rustlers,” says Mr Okwera.
He added that the district should look into ways of providing extra security personnel to accompany farmers to their farm lands to warrant their safety.
“Most of these farmers dig in far places, they normally take weeks in the gardens to finish up with their farming activities, if security is not provided, it means famine will occur because this area is the food basket in the district, “says Mr Okwera.
He noted that currently the Anti-Stock Theft Unit in the district are incapacitated to man the entire porous borders points where the rustlers do pass from.
Weak security at Border
Mr Mathew Ocen Akiya, Lamwo LCV Chairperson however admitted that the porous border points between Uganda and South Sudan have facilitated many lootings of cattle in the district.
He added that the four border points of Apiriti, Ngomoromo, Warego and Aweno Olwi that connects south Sudan with many districts in the north are not well manned and called for establishment of tight security checks.
No rustlers
The 5th Division infantry spokesperson, Capt Telesphor Turyamumanya, in an interview said the army had taken full control of the border between Uganda and South Sudan arguing that those stealing cattle are mere thieves not rustlers.
“We have the porous border boundaries under our control, and our personnel patrol the areas rigorously, we cannot however rule out some of the isolated incidences that happen,” says Cpt Turyamumanya.
Cpt Turyamumanya also noted that the proliferation of illegal guns within the district is facilitating cattle theft and warned people with illegal fire arms to surrender them to the army of face the that law once caught.
He however advised the farmers not to be afraid of ploughing their farmland arguing the army is keeping watch.
In October last year, suspected South Sudanese cattle rustlers invaded Poyamo village in Madi-Opei Sub-county and looted over 20 heads of cattle.
Reports from Lamwo district officials indicated that between 2009 and March 2015, a total of 400 cattle and 392 goats have been looted by rustlers from South Sudan.
