MOROTO: Citing indiscriminate killings of civilians by suspected warriors in the outskirts of Moroto town, especially in Katanga, Moroto Resident District Commissioner (RDC), James Shilaku has directed the police to strictly enforce the Enguli Act that prohibits the production, sale, and distribution of illicit alcohol in an attempt to resolve security issues.
Security forces in Moroto have often blamed alcohol as the driving factor behind the cattle raids, saying warriors first consume alcohol to gather courage and also use the money obtained from selling stolen animals to drink locally distilled waragi.
In some incidents, warriors have been captured with bottles of crude waragi, an indication that they first consume the waragi before embarking on their mission.
With all this in mind, Shilaku wants police to impound and pour all crude waragi including that being sold in bars. He warns that the bar owners who don’t heed the directive shall be arrested and their bars closed.
Police have only been impounding large quantities of crude waragi ferried from other regions to Karamoja. However, the RDC on Monday, January 24, 2022, ordered the police to impound even the smallest quantity being sold in drinking joints within Moroto district.
David Koriang, the Moroto district LC V Chairperson has welcomed the directive, saying it should take immediate effect to save lives.
On the other hand, the RDC’s directive has generated mixed reactions from the public, saying it could affect the local economy that is supported by this business.
Only 37 percent of the alcohol in Uganda comes from breweries while the remaining percentage, which is unregulated is domestically produced.