“I met security, political and religious leaders of Lango and Acholi Sub-Regions. We talked about the rampant cattle thefts and the increasing cases of commercialized cattle rustling resulting from the neighbouring districts of the Karamoja region,” President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said.
On Friday, President Museveni held an extensive meeting with all the security chiefs from Acholi and Lango regions at Barlegi State Lodge in Otuke Districts over the prevailing security situation arising from recent cattle rustling by the Karamojong.
President directed the area commanders to tighten operations along inter border points within the districts.
“ l directed the security personnel to coordinate their operations with their counterparts in the neighbouring districts to be more effective. Blind deployment is tiring soldiers and costs more for nothing. This is not war, it is an intelligence-led operation,” He ordered.
According to Mr President, “We must have intelligence-led operations not reactionary. Discover the person before the raid, not investigate after the raid. Cattle thieves are not very sophisticated people.”
He also challenged the Police to make use of available government systems instead of pushing for more manpower.
“The Uganda you are looking after is the same one that was handed over at Independence. They were managing huge areas with small numbers. What you need is to plan and use government systems like the chiefs,” President asserted.
On Thursday, President conducted a similar meeting with the local leaders and security chiefs from Teso, Bugisu and Sebei regions at a state lodge in Kapchorwa district.
President Museveni is expected to pitch camp in Karamoja sub region to oversee the current cordon and search operations to curb down cattle rustling.