The suspects were implicated in a security meeting convened on Tuesday.
At least 16 community members in Agoro sub-county in Lamwo district have been named for suspected illegal possession of guns and trading in guns. The suspects were implicated in a security meeting convened on Tuesday.
During the meeting, Agago Resident District Commissioner, Geoffrey Osborn Oceng ordered the arrest of Richard Ocira Amooti, the leader of the business community in Agoro for allegedly trading in guns.
The meeting followed an incident on October 11, 2022, in which 58-year-old Patrick Opala was shot dead at around 8 am while working in his garden. Investigations led to the arrest of three suspects on October 12th, 2022 including one Bob Marley, the LC I Chairperson of Irumu village.
Bob Marley is said to have shot his ex-wife, a day before she was set to marry another man about three years ago. He was recently released because no one was bold enough to testify against him. Oceng said the chairperson who is under police custody, is suspected to be in possession of two firearms, which are said to be hidden in Agoro hills.
There have been reports that some of the security personnel are dealing in firearms. Oceng acknowledged receiving the complaint, saying they will verify the reports.
To reduce the influx of guns in Agoro, Oceng said they will do regular sensitization of the community about the dangers of illegally keeping guns, twice a month. He has also tasked the LC I leaders in Agoro to register all the residents in their jurisdiction by Friday this week, to help them know who is who.
Oceng said the security committee in Lamwo will next week meet with the governor of Ikwotos County in South Sudan to chat about stopping the gun trade and atrocities allegedly being committed by locals from South Sudan.
Peter Fred Erwondo, the Agoro Sub County LCV V councilor said illegal possession of and trade in guns started in the sub-county in the past six years. Erwondo identified Ngacino and Lopulingi parishes as the areas most affected by illegal guns.
According to Erwondo, illegal gun traders buy guns from Nimule and sell them to South Sudan or within Uganda to the wrong elements, mainly cattle rustlers. He said some buyers come from as far as Bweyale in Kiryandongo district and Orom in Kitgum to buy guns from Agoro.
Sisto Ocen Oyet, the Lamwo district LC V chairperson attributed the challenge of stopping illegal dealings in guns to the location, which gives a lee-way to the gun holders to hide in either South Sudan or Uganda, depending on where they committed a crime.
Kalsum Ayakaka, the Lamwo District OC CID appealed to the community to cooperate with investigators and provide information leading to the prosecution of the suspects.
According to Ayakaka, the suspects arrested two weeks ago are still in police custody, because no one is coming out to testify against them. “The problem is those who have information are refusing to testify, but know that if you have information about a suspect and you refuse to testify, you become an accomplice,” Kalsum said.
During the meeting, the suspects who are still at large were given until Friday this week to surrender their guns to the authorities and be forgiven, 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
