The bodies of two soldiers and three government geologists murdered in the north-eastern district of Karamoja have been recovered by the Ugandan army.
The geologists were on a trip to gather soil samples from the mineral-rich area. According to military spokesman Brigadier Felix Kulayigye, their bodies have been handed over to the energy ministry.
According to him, the attackers were Turkana livestock rustlers from Kenya who ambushed the group near Moroto.
The Turkana and the Matheniko, a Karimojong clan, are known to have worked together.
He also stated that the army was in contact with Turkana elders over the return of stolen weapons by the soldiers.
During protracted dry seasons, residents in the border region frequently travel the two nations in search of pastures for their livestock.
Cattle rustlers, on the other hand, have used lax border controls to plan raids. The Ugandan army conducted a disarmament program, which resulted in the removal of the majority of guns from the village. However, with the recent improvement of roads and mobile phone access, cattle rustling has become profitable.
Last year, the Ugandan army began a fresh disarmament program.