Killings in Uganda cattle battles

By Will Ross
BBC News, Kampala

Without guns herders feel powerless to stop thefts

At least 25 people have died in two days of clashes between the army and cattle raiders in north-east Uganda.

Humanitarian sources report that four children and a teacher were among the civilians killed in the crossfire in Karamoja on Wednesday and Thursday.

An army commander said the trouble began when Pian warriors raided cattle from the rival Bokora ethnic group.

Battles ensued after soldiers recovered the cattle, which many keep as a store of wealth in this gun-ridden region.

The Ugandan army has been operating a voluntary disarmament exercise in Karamoja, which is one of the least developed areas of Uganda.

But cattle raids and general banditry have increased in recent years with great loss of life.

Ambush

The worst of the clashes have taken place in Karamoja's Nakapiripirit district.

It is not yet clear how many people have died, but a district official said many civilians were caught in the crossfire and the fighting in Nabelatuk had left around 30 Ugandan soldiers dead.

Cows are a major commodity in the area

The area's army commander, Colonel Silver Kayemba, described this as an exaggeration, saying five soldiers were killed and 14 were wounded when a group of Pian warriors ambushed an army unit.

He said after the army recovered the animals raided earlier this week, the warriors took revenge by attacking the soldiers.

He reports that soldiers have killed 20 of the warriors since then.

Another source reports that huts were set ablaze during the clashes.

Gunshots

A district official said the Pian population had become angry after several raids by Bokora warriors in recent months.

He said the army had not reacted to the raids. The official estimates that the Pian had lost over 2,000 cattle in the past two months.

There are reports of other violence in Karamoja this week. Humanitarian sources report that a commercial vehicle was ambushed on Wednesday, leaving four local police dead.

It is also reported that warriors from other rival ethnic groups have taken advantage of the violence in Nakapiripirit district and carried out cattle raids.

People in Moroto town reported hearing gunshots on Friday morning.

A disarmament exercise was carried by the army out three years ago, but was effectively abandoned as soldiers were relocated to deal with the conflict in northern Uganda.

This week's clashes are a reminder that the Karamoja problem is great and still needs to be resolved.