Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UPDF has busted the hideout of criminal gangs terrorizing the community in Agoro Sub County in Lamwo district. The army has discovered nine (9) huts on top of Agoro Hills, which are used by the gangsters to plan their missions and terrorise residents.
The development came a day after Lamwo Resident District Commissioner-RDC, Geoffrey Osborn Oceng convened a security meeting on Tuesday involving the community. During the meeting, the community listed sixteen locals suspected to be in possession of illegal firearms.
One of the suspects, Richard Ocira Amooti, the leader of the business community in Agoro sub-county, was arrested during the meeting for allegedly trading in guns. Ocen said that after the meeting, he ordered the army to climb the hills, where the thugs are said to hide often, and they found nine grass-thatched huts and 14 saucepans, which they use for cooking.
Speaking during the belated World Food Day in Agoro on Wednesday, Oceng reprimanded the GISO of Agoro for calling and alerting the thugs of the impending operation, which enabled them to flee to South Sudan.
Oceng said they knew that the GISO was a collaborator through the phone of the suspected gun dealer who was arrested on Tuesday.
Oceng promised to follow the suspects up to South Sudan and have them arrested and brought back to Uganda to pay for their crimes.
Oceng promised to ensure that more soldiers are added and detaches are created in the Ngacino and Lopulingi parishes to help strengthen security in the affected areas.
All these developments follow the killing of Patrick Opala, a 56-year-old farmer who was gunned down on October 11th as he worked in his garden around 8 am. Reports indicate that Opala was the fourth person in the same family to be killed using a gun, allegedly over a land dispute.
Local leaders have said illegal possession of and trade in guns started in the sub-county in the past six years. Ngacino, Lopulingi, and Lurunya parishes are most affected by illegal guns. Oceng reiterated on Wednesday that those with guns have until Friday this week to surrender them to the local leaders or face a military court martial.
Possession of firearms without a valid license is an offense in Uganda and contravenes sections 3 (1), 2, (a), and (b) of Uganda’s Fire Arms Act 299 and can attract a jail sentence not exceeding ten years in prison.URN
