Recent reports indicate that Lochoto Ambrose Machete, a key mobilizer for Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) in the Karamoja region, was fatally shot last night, allegedly by individuals associated with the security forces. Machete served as the Chairperson of NUP’s mobilization team in Kaabong District within the greater Karamoja region.
Preliminary information suggests that security agencies acted on intelligence about unknown armed individuals suspected of raiding cattle in Kakamar Sub-county. In response, joint security forces initiated ambushes at various known crossing points to intercept, recover, and disarm these suspected armed warriors. Tragically, Machete, unaware of the ambush, entered the area around midnight and was fatally shot, as detailed in a concise police statement released during the ongoing investigation.
The crime scene was thoroughly investigated by the District Police Commander (DPC), Deputy Chief of Criminal Investigations Department (D/CID), and a team of police officers and army personnel. Statements from relatives and witnesses were recorded, and the body was later transported to Kaabong General Hospital for a Postmortem examination.
Bobi Wine, using his social media platforms, disclosed that Machete was shot at close range by assailants who had apparently followed him after he had watched a football match. This tragic incident underscores the challenges faced in Karamoja, a volatile region where civilians still possess firearms despite the government’s disarmament efforts.
Cattle rustling remains a persistent security threat involving Karamojongs and neighboring communities, including the Turkana and Pokot from Kenya, despite the presence of a full division of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF).
