Devastation in Yumbe: Over 200 Cattle Stolen in Cross-Border Raid

At dawn in Kei Sub-county, Yumbe District, empty cattle kraals stand as stark reminders of a brutal raid two weeks ago. Over 200 herds vanished in a midnight attack by armed men believed to be from South Sudan, who fired shots and drove the livestock across the porous border.

For locals, cattle mean survival—milk for nutrition, cash for school fees, and family pride. Resident Alli Buga lost 30 animals, his entire herd, plunging his household into uncertainty. ‘We ran into the bush amid gunshots,’ he shared, mourning the loss of their lifeline.

Deputy head teacher Ismail Saidi also suffered, with 12 cattle gone just when he needed to replace a stolen motorcycle. Women like Mauzu Ocogoru from Tokiri village lament dry milk pots and vanished income. ‘Children go without milk, and school fees are at risk,’ she said, noting rising thefts of goats and sheep forcing some to sleep with livestock or flee to trading centers.

In nearby Kochi Sub-county, similar losses compound the pain. Local leaders report broken fences and few recoveries despite UPDF operations. Aringa Cultural Institution Prime Minister Fadhil Lemeriga decries repeated incursions, urging more troops, community dialogues with South Sudanese tribes, and better patrols.

UPDF’s Lt Nasser Mene attributes raids to armed locals swapping cattle across borders, promising adjusted deployments and community vigilance. Yumbe RDC Hajji Sulaiman Lubwama Bukya confirmed 130 cattle recovered via South Sudan coordination, with the border now calm and dialogue ongoing to restrict grazing near frontiers.

South Sudan’s Ikotos County Commissioner Timon Loboi pledged full recovery efforts and compensation for losses. Similar raids hit Lamwo District earlier this year, underscoring persistent border insecurity.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)