MOROTO – There is chaos and panic in Rupa sub-county in Moroto District after a Karimojong Local Defence Unit personnel shot dead the Sub County LC3 chairperson following a disagreement over impounded stolen animals.
Mr. Dan Apollo who doubles as elder brother to Mr. David Pulkol the former government Director of ISO was shot dead Tuesday morning at 8:00 a.m around Kidepo Trading Center in Rupa Sub County in Moroto District.
Mr. Apollo met his death as he was trying to stop the LDU from diving away with the animals impounded and kept by the army at the Kidepo detach.
The incident paralyzed the entire sub-county as the army and police battled to calm down the charged armed LDUS who went trigger happy shooting at everybody randomly.
According to security personnel, the LDUs who attached to Kalosaric grazing area in Kotido District had followed up animals in Kidepo that were allegedly raided in Kotido.
“When these LDUs came, they wanted to take away the animals but the community refused them instead of the public called Mr. Apollo as LC3 to help and address the situation when he arrived, the LDUs started shooting at people randomly and the third bullet got the LC3 chairman, “he said.
Major. Telesphar Turyamumanya confirmed the incident but said he was not in position to speak to the media until they calm down the situation.
“I will give a brief to the media, but not now because we are busy on the ground,” he said.
Karamoja region which had enjoyed peace for ten years after the government successfully disarmed the Karimojong seems to have gone back to the previous insecurity.
Since October 15, over 15 raids have happened in Karamoja where leaders of Kotido claim they have lost over 4,000 cattle to raiders from Moroto and Turkana of Kenya.
Last Friday a Member of Parliament for Kibale County, Mr. Richard Oseku Oriebo survived an ambush laid by suspected Karimojong warriors.
Mr. Oseku who before joining Parliament worked as Regional Internal Security Officer (RISO) Kidepo region based in Kotido was traveling with his family to Kotido to attend the marriage anniversary of one of his longtime friends, although none of his family members got injured in the ambush.