56 people killed in Acholi in three months - police
Recovered. Aswa Region police spokesperson Jimmy Patrick Okema displays guns that were recovered from thugs in an operation conducted in April. PHOTO BY JULIUS OCUNGI
What you need to know:
Incidents. The deaths are a result of domestic violence, land conflicts, assault and mob action.
A total of 56 people have been killed within the eight districts of Acholi Sub-region in just three months, a new police report has revealed.
According to the police reports, the killings occurred between the months of June and August with the newly created Omoro District registering the highest number of murder cases.
According to the report released in Gulu Municipality on Wednesday, Omoro had 11 cases of murder followed by Gulu District which registered 10 cases and Nwoya with nine.
Amuru and Agago districts had seven and six cases respectively.
Pader District registered five cases while Lamwo and Kitgum had four murder cases each.
The Aswa River Region police spokesperson, Mr Jimmy Patrick Okema, said many of the cases registered were as a result of domestic violence while others were influenced by land conflicts, assault, and mob action.
Advised
“The numbers of people killed in this region within this short period is worrying. There are several people who are undergoing domestic violence at their homes but they choose not to open up and at the end, they resort to taking decisions into their hands,” Mr Okema said.
Mr Okema advised the locals to always seek advice from local leaders and the police who will also help them in counselling and mediation.
“We always carry out community sensitisation where we advise the locals on the need to always engage other people whenever they have problems. This has worked in some instances,” Mr Okema said.
The Police annual crime report released last week, indicates that a total of 44 people died in Acholi Sub-region as a result of domestic violence in 2017.
Suicide cases
The region is also grappling with high suicide cases that have seen a number of people lose their lives since the year began.
In Omoro District, 10 people have so far taken their lives in the sub-counties of Odek, Lalogi and Koro since January.
Last year, 25 people committed suicide in Koch Goma Sub-county in Nwoya District prompting religious leaders to hold a prayer to cleanse the area in August 2017.
