MOROTO – Resident of Lotisan and Rupa sub counties in Moroto district Karamoja sub region have accused UPDF soldiers who are deployed to providing security for Sunbelt investor carrying out marble mining in the area for allegedly killing and eating their goats and cows.
The pastoralists raised this last week during a land meeting held at Lorukumo village in Rupa Sub County.
Mr. John Abura the Lc1 chairperson of Lorukumo told the meeting attended by district security officials led by the resident district commissioner Mr. Peter Ken Lochap that the communities have lost and its continuing to their animals to the soldiers who are guarding the mining camp of Sunbelt.
According to Mr. Abura so far two cows and ten goats have been eaten by the soldiers guarding the investor’s camp and their effort to talk to the management of Sunbelt has failed since the soldiers are so arrogant.
“When the animals go nearer the camp, the soldier’s releases their Germany dogs to bite goats and cows as the soldiers use the sharp knifes tied in front of their guns to spear the animals killing it and they take to eat inside the camp,” he said.
Betty Nakiru another resident said the soldiers have also denied residents access to their traditional shrines and it has been fenced off.
“ That has been our main area of getting traditional machines, firewood and where we could get grass for our livestock but now we have been denied the access it,” She said.
Sunbelt Company limited is carrying out marble and transports it to their main factory located in Kapeka in Kampala.
Mr. Lt. Col. Amos Oyugi the overseer of the camp said the management of Sunbelt held a meeting with the district leaders and promised to compensate some of the animals allegedly killed in the camp.
“What I know is that it’s only one goat which the dogs killed but not many animals as the locals claim and even that one goat the investor has accepted to compensate,” he said.
Mr. Peter Lochap the resident district commission called for calm among the local community promising that their complains will be handled.
