Serere leaders divided over independent probe into murders
Ministers of State for Fisheries, Hellen Adoa, and Disaster Preparedness, Relief, and Refugees, Lillian Aber, hand over sheep to women during a belated Women’s Day celebration at Asilang Primary School in Serere District on March 21, 2025. PHOTO/ SIMON PETER EMWAMU
What you need to know:
- Gender-based violence has also played a significant role in the district’s insecurity.
Leaders in Serere District are divided over calls for an independent investigation into a series of murders that have plagued the region over the past year.
Conflicting reports suggest that between 14 and 25 people have been killed in Serere within the last 18 months, raising concerns among local leaders and residents.
Some believe an independent probe is necessary to address the escalating violence, while others argue that existing security measures are sufficient.
During a belated Women’s Day celebration at Asilang Primary School in Atiira sub-county on Friday, former Serere District chairman Joseph Opit Okojo urged authorities to launch an independent inquiry.
He warned that failure to act decisively could allow opposition forces to regain political influence in the district.
“As we celebrate Women’s Day, let’s not forget the murders that have targeted mothers across the district,” Opit said. “These killings have caused misery and fear, and we must put an end to them.”
However, Serere Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Robert Adiama downplayed the need for external intervention, asserting that the culprits are locals known to the affected communities.
“These murders are not being carried out by an external force; they are being committed by the very children of Serere,” Adiama told residents. He revealed that since August 2024, 14 people—11 women and three men—have been murdered.
Adiama also recounted past waves of violence in the district. Following the 2003-2004 Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency in the Teso sub-region, Serere experienced gun-related killings in 2005. Authorities managed to recover nine firearms, restoring order. Another wave of murders occurred between 2010 and 2015, which, according to Adiama, was also perpetrated by individuals known to the local population.
“The resurgence of these killings may stem from previous failures to investigate and prosecute suspects,” he noted.
A recent murder in Atiira sub-county further fueled concerns. According to Adiama, the suspect had previously killed his wife in 2015 but remained at large. Earlier this month, he murdered another woman, leading to his lynching by an enraged mob.
Gender-based violence has also played a significant role in the district’s insecurity. “Two men were killed in Ocaapa by their wives,” Adiama said, urging for intensified community mobilization to end domestic violence.
State Minister for Fisheries Hellen Adoa criticized attempts to politicize the murders. She linked some of the violence to drug abuse, emphasizing the need for rehabilitation programs. “We initiated efforts with security forces to sensitize drug addicts and encourage them to engage in productive activities, but some people are politicizing this,” she said.
State Minister for Disaster Preparedness Lillian Aber, who served as the event’s chief guest, called for an urgent response to gender-based violence, identifying it as a major contributor to the murders.
