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UPDF Denies Raiding Kenya Cattle

New Vision (Kampala)
NEWS
January 15, 2005
Posted to the web January 17, 2005

By Reuben Olita and Anne Mugisa
Kampal & Nairobi
THE UPDF has refuted claims that it was involved in a cattle raid in Kenya's
west Pokot village, during which herders lost over 1,200 head of cattle.
Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto and some herdsmen claimed that the UPDF was
involved in the raid on Saturday, and demanded that the Kenyan government makes
a formal protest to Ugandan authorities.
The herders told the Police that the attack at Kanyarkwat and Katikomor was
executed by the Ugandan forces and not cattle rustlers from the Sebei community
as earlier claimed.
They said the aggressors were in UPDF uniforms and were armed with
sophisticated firearms.
"We are sure they were UPDF personnel since we have severally seen them
whenever we cross to Uganda to look for pasture," one herder said.
UPDF spokesman Shaban Bantariza said Moroto was intentionally misleading the
authorities.
He said the Pokot attacked and raided Sebei cows from Bukwa, inside Uganda, on
the way to the Suam river border.
The Sabiny followed them and recovered their cows but the Pokot later said that
the Sabiny took more cattle than was raided.
The Kenyan herdsmen asked the Kenyan government to ensure their animals were
recovered and returned to them otherwise they would be forced to revenge.

   

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