By Spy Uganda
A section of Turkana leaders have protested the alleged shooting of one and jailing of seven Kenyan nationals by the Uganda Military.
The protest come after a Ugandan military court sent to prison 32 Kenyans after they were allegedly found in possession of illegal firearms and ammunition in the northeastern sub-region of Karamoja.
According to reports, the Ugandan Military said the pastoralists were arrested in an operation on April 8, where 31 guns and 751 rounds of ammunition were recovered.
The group was arraigned in the 3rd Division Military Court Martial based in Moroto District in the Northern region.
Reports indicate the 32 were convicted on two counts, illegal possession of firearms and illegal possession of ammunition, each carrying a sentence of 10 years. The convicts will serve their sentences consecutively.
But the leaders said such acts of humiliation against the Kenyan pastoralists are an affront to the efforts of East Africa integration.
“More than 40 Kenyan pastoralists have lived in Uganda their entire lifetime and have dual citizenship. It is disturbing that they have been attacked by Ugandan military and others jailed by court-martial,” the Deputy Governor John Erus said.
According to Ugandan military law, any person found in possession of military weapons, equipment on ammunition is subjected to and tried by the court martial.
Northeastern Uganda is facing armed cattle rustling. The Ugandan military has currently been carrying out a disarmament operation to stem the practice.
