Agago, Uganda – March 17, 2025 – A deadly attack by Karamojong cattle raiders has left one person dead and another injured in Agago District. The incident occurred last night when armed warriors ambushed Okidi Charles Kiiza from Abilnino Parish, Lira Kato Sub-county, fatally shooting him in the stomach.
According to local sources, the raiders were returning from an unidentified location with stolen goats when they encountered Okidi on his way home. Without hesitation, they opened fire, killing him instantly.
As they advanced, the warriors crossed Auc Stream near a eucalyptus forest, where they met a young boy identified as Canogura. The boy was shot and injured before the raiders continued their journey across Lira Kato Sub-county.
This attack comes just days after another group of Karamojong raiders was spotted near Lanyagoya Bridge in the same sub-county, also driving stolen livestock.
The escalating frequency of these raids has been linked to changes in livestock security measures. While communities along the Karamoja border have moved their animals into protected communal kraals—fortified enclosures that make theft more difficult—some neighboring sub-counties still leave their livestock unguarded. Raiders avoid the secure kraals and instead target areas where goats and cattle roam freely, causing devastation in their wake.
"We are facing serious challenges because the raiders pass through our sub-counties after their attacks. When they meet people on the way, they shoot," a concerned resident said.
Local leaders and security officials are urging all affected communities to adopt the kraal strategy to deter further raids and minimize loss of life.
Authorities are investigating the latest attack, and efforts are underway to strengthen security measures in the region.
