Police in the northern Ugandan Moroto district have begun arresting people buying five or more chapatis, suspecting they may be feeding livestock thieves in the area.
“We have received reports that those who buy a lot of chapatis are sending militants to the bush,” Micheal Longole, a Karamoja police spokesman, was quoted as saying by URN.
He said ending the shipment of food to the thieves may force them to come out of hiding and hand over their weapons.
Local peace activist Mark Koryang said the plan would not work. “These militants can survive without even eating chapati,” he said. Another resident told URN that security officials needed to work with local people to address insecurity in the state.
Fifty-eight guns have been found throughout the area since the disarmament exercise began on July 17, Edrine Mawanda, a spokeswoman for the army unit, said the URN.
