There was a deadly exchange of fire between soldiers of the 51st Infantry, battalion 407 of the Uganda Peaoples Defense Forces(UPDF) and Pokot pastoralists on Wednesday, 22 in Amudat district, Northern Uganda.
The incident occurred as the animals grazed near the border area of Naporokoch parish in Amudat district and Korite of Kween district, encountering UPDF soldiers on patrol. The fight resulted from young shepherds guiding the cows to drink water from the Kween side, where Pokot pastoralists are prohibited from grazing.
According to Joseph Lobot, the chairman of Amudat district, the UPDF confirmed the incident, attributing the cow casualties to an exchange of fire between the soldiers and Pokot armed warriors.
Major Moses Amuya, the acting UPDF 3rd division spokesperson, asserted that during the confrontation, the warriors retreated towards the herd, using it as a shield in the crossfire, an account sharply contested by Lobot who says that some of the warriors would have sustained injuries as well.
Lobot urged security forces to impartially bring together conflicting communities for peace, highlighting the detrimental impact of taking sides on the escalating insecurity.
In September this year, the army detained one of its officers who went on a shooting spree, resulting in the death of over 40 cows in Moruita sub county, Nakapiripirit district. These cows were part of the 291 cattle recovered from the Pokot community following a raid in the Naborokocha areas.
