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| The suspects arrested for killing the geologists |
KAMPALA, April 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police’s Anti Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have arrested two key suspects in the killing of three geologists and two soldiers in Moroto District in Uganda last month.
Three officials, including one of the country’s top geologists, and their two military escorts were on March 21 killed in a remote, mineral-rich region bordering South Sudan and Kenya.
They came under attack during a mineral mapping exercise in Karamoja, an impoverished and volatile region in the country’s northeast.
Richard Kiggwwe, the lead geologist and his colleague, Charles Olweny– both from the mineral and energy ministry — had travelled 490 kilometres from the capital Kampala to Moroto District alongside an intern identified as Edna Musiime from Makerere University.
Their translator reportedly tried to explain to the armed villagers about their mission in the area but the gunmen, probably out of lack of information opened fire, killing all five in cold blood. The translator escaped with an injury on the stomach.
Security operatives said 20 people were rounded up in a one-week operation in Lokisilei, Kobebe dam and parts of Naput in Lotisan Sub County following the attack.
Two of the suspects confessed to killing the geologists, according to police.
Micheal Longole, the Karamoja regional police spokesperson, said the suspects are currently detained at the UPDF 3rd division headquarters where they are likely to appear before the army court on charges of murder, illegal possession of firearms and illegal entry into Uganda, among others.
Longole said the security operatives also recovered eight guns, three rounds of ammunition and one police uniform during the operation. However, the two guns stolen from the killed military escorts are yet to be recovered. — NNN-AGENCIES
