Empty Kraals, Broken Dreams: Cross-Border Cattle Raid Devastates Ugandan Families

A wave of cattle rustling in northern Uganda has left families in Yumbe District counting heavy losses after armed raiders reportedly stole more than 200 cattle in night attacks near the South Sudan border.

The raids targeted villages in Kei and Kochi sub-counties, where livestock is the main source of income, food, and school fees for many households.

Victims say they woke up to empty kraals and shattered hopes, with some families losing entire herds in a single night.

Local authorities suspect the attackers crossed from neighboring South Sudan through porous border routes before driving the animals away under cover of darkness.

Security forces from both countries have launched operations, recovering about 70 cattle so far, but many animals remain missing.

For many residents, the losses go far beyond livestock. Cattle are savings accounts, farming power, dowry assets, and survival tools in rural communities.

Their disappearance deepens poverty and raises fresh fears in a region already battling insecurity.

The latest incident highlights the growing security challenge along the Uganda,South Sudan frontier, where repeated cattle raids continue to fuel hardship, tension, and uncertainty for border communities.