Karenga, Uganda: The joint security forces attached to the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have recovered two illegal firearms in Karenga District as part of intensified disarmament operations in Northern Karamoja.
According to Michael Longole, the Mt Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson, the first recovery involved an SMG rifle with three live rounds of ammunition, seized from Lomeritum Lobwol Simon Peter, 30, a resident of Lokorio Village.
The suspect was arrested on May 21, 2025, and led the forces to his residence, where the firearm was found.
In a separate case, another SMG rifle was voluntarily surrendered to security by the wife of Lokuda Gabriel, a 70-year-old resident of Komem Village, who was earlier arrested on May 4, 2025. He remains in custody as investigations continue.
“These recoveries are part of our ongoing efforts to mop up illegal weapons in the region. Our security agencies remain committed to maintaining peace and security in the region and urge the community to continue cooperating with them,” Longole said.
Continued crackdown in illegal firearms
The Karamoja sub-region has witnessed a sustained crackdown on illegal firearms due to their link to persistent gun violence, livestock theft, and insecurity.
In recent weeks, joint forces in the region have recorded several recoveries and arrests: On May 8, 2025, two guns were recovered in Kotido during a cordon-and-search operation that also led to the arrest of three suspected warriors.
In April 2025, ASTU and UPDF recovered four firearms in Kaabong District, following a shootout with armed raiders, while earlier this year (March), a prominent disarmament drive in Napak yielded six illegal guns, most of them voluntarily handed in by local elders under the Amnesty and Reintegration Program.
Police have urged communities in the greater Karamoja region to continue supporting the disarmament campaign and report any suspicious individuals in possession of illegal weapons.
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