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BY EDWARD AKAKI
The joint security forces in Karamoja region in a bid to stop commercialized cattle raids in the region have profiled and approved 28 cattle markets in the nine districts constituting Karamoja. This was revealed in security joint press on Thursday 15th September,2022 at the 3rd Infantry Division headquarters Moroto.
According to the Commandant Anti-Stock Theft Unit-ASTU Commissioner of Police Elias Kasirabo, the markets are now the only designated places of sale of animals in the region whether cattle, goats or sheep.
He said that the forces are deployed in this markets to help recover any stolen animals from the perpetuators who may come to sell the animals. He added that before any animal is sold, the seller must provide a letter from the Local Council 1 of where it originates.
In addition, the traders who buy and transport the animals out of the region has been profiled and mandated to take pictures of the animals they are buying including the seller for easy tracking incase this animals be deemed stolen in the transportation process.
Kasirabo said there are different animal checkpoints set along routes within and leading out of the region which is to verify the number of animals being carried by a trader, letters from LC1, pictures taken from the places of buying and the authenticity of the documents presented.
This he says is measure to for the ASTU to accurately perform their responsibilities of mitigating cattle thefts in Karamoja and the neighboring regions.
“We know there has been livestock businesses in the unapproved places like a trader getting getting a seller on th road and buying the animal there and then, however as security and with the guidelines of Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, we know 28 markets in the 9 districts and only letters from this markets will be accepted at our checkpoints”, said Assistant Inspector of Police Longole Mike the Regional PRO Mt. Moroto Region.
