Unidentified armed assailants are currently being sought by the police in Amudat District, located in Uganda’s volatile Karamoja sub-region.

These assailants believed to be Karimojong warriors, mercilessly shot and killed four cattle dealers on Sunday afternoon.

The victims were trailed by the assailants and were fatally shot at approximately 3 pm before the culprits made their escape.

IP Mike Longole, the acting Mt Moroto regional Police Spokesperson confirmed this tragic incident and expressed his deep regret.

He said a team of detectives, accompanied by a canine dog, had already visited the crime scene and managed to recover some substantial evidence.

“We inform the public that, Police in Amudat District have today (Sunday) at around 0330pm registered a nasty incident where four people who were traveling in Motor vehicle Reg. No. UBP 601Q Toyota Harrier black in color were shot dead by suspected armed thugs along Lemusui Road in Akonguyo village, Amudat Sub County,” IP Longole said in a brief statement.

Mr Longole who condemned the murder of innocent road users said statements were recorded from witnesses to support investigations.

Without revealing particulars of the four victims police said they are residents of Mbale City in eastern Uganda. 

Sources in Mbale told this publication that the victims are cattle dealers.

The motive behind the attack and the identities of the assailants are currently under investigation by the police, while the bodies have been transported to the mortuary at Amudat Hospital for postmortem examination.

Over the past five years, numerous Ugandans have tragically lost their lives due to the actions of suspected armed warriors in the mineral-rich sub-region of northwestern Uganda.

These attacks have been further fueled by the issue of cattle rustling, which has contributed to a heightened sense of insecurity in the area, despite the efforts of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to conduct disarmament operations.