The Monitor, Kampala, 30 June 1998

Police, DSO disarm vigilantes

By Xavier Koluo in Kumi

Kumi district police commander (DPC), ASP Samson Onyai, and district internal security officer (DISO), Lt. Edward Bugusha, have dismissed unruly vigilantes in the district.

Local authorities in Kumi accused ten vigilantes of the anti-livestock theft unit in the district of misusing arms and ammunition for hunting.

The ten, including their commander, Michael Akol, were disarmed, caned and dismissed at a disciplinary committee meeting at Kotiokot Primary School recently.

They were also accused of interfering with the work of LCs and chiefs, and ordered to hand over their military uniforms.

DPC Onyai, said the police and DISO will continue screening vigilantes to ensure that a reliable force willing to cooperate with local leaders to eradicate cattle thefts is in place.