A yet to be identified gang of rustlers have attacked the kraal of the Tepeth legislator Albert Lokoru, grabbing at least 36 bulls in a daring attack in Moroto district.

The kraal at the foot of Mt. Moroto lies in Nabokat village, Lia parish and is guarded by the Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces-UPDF, a kilometre away from the centre of Moroto town.

Information available, indicate that the raiders arrived earlier at around 10.00pm on Thursday night, cut the chain link and only began driving the selected huge bulls at exactly midnight after they fired a single bullet in the air to alert the forces of their presence.

An exchange of gunfire ensued, but no fatalities were registered during the clash.

Locals have placed the numbers of suspected rustlers between 60-80, saying they had even laid ambushes around the kraal incase the army sent in reinforcement.

According to Joan Nakiru, a resident of the same village, she was woken up from sleep by the sound of the gunshots.

Marriko Natudo 28, the herdsman has faulted the army on the successful raid on the kraal saying only one responded to the fire of raiders, as the other two out of three soldiers were in deep sleep.

Natudo adds that he would have killed some of these bandits because the moon was bright and high in the sky, as the bandits could be seen walking since the kraal is on a raised ground.

He appealed to the army leadership to prevail over their forces on drinking sprees, adding that if the soldiers were sober the raiders would have not taken the animals.

Meanwhile, during his visit to the kraal, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner – Moroto Justine Tuko acknowledged the laxity of the forces.

He said the numbers at the kraal would have engaged the criminal gang without cows being stolen.