According to the police report released on Wednesday by the Aswa River Region Police Spokespersons, thirty-one murder cases were registered in Acholi Sub Region between January and February this year.
retired northern uganda diocese bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng speaks at the 44th commemoration of st janani luwum martyrdom in kitgum district on tuesday.
Religious and cultural leaders in Acholi Sub Region have expressed
concerns over the alarming cases of murder in the region.
Bishop Nelson Onono Ongweng, the Chairperson of Acholi Religious Leaders Peace
Initiative (ARLPI) says that they are saddened by the increasing cases of
murders in the region.
According to the police report released on Wednesday by the Aswa River Region
Police Spokespersons, thirty-one murder cases were registered in Acholi Sub
Region between January and February this year.
Kitgum district registered nine, followed by Agago with seven, Amuru had four,
Gulu district had three, Gulu City registered two, Nwoya also had two while
Omoro and Pader districts each had one case.
Police attribute most of the cases to domestic violence, relationships and land
wrangles.
The latest case involved Bosco Nyeko, the village chairperson for Larego in
Pakeyo Parish, Laguti Sub County Pader district who reportedly hacked his wife
identified as Lilly Atoo on Sunday night following a domestic disagreement.
Ongweng has asked believers and everyone to respect human lives noting that it
is a precious gift from God and no one has the rights to take it away no matter
the magnitude of one`s offence or grievances.
He equally called on religious and cultural leaders to condemn the killings and
preach peace, love, truth and humility and better conflict solving mechanisms
without fighting or violence.
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The clergy also disclosed that ARLPI will scale up community awareness on peace building
and problem-solving mechanisms as well as psycho-social support to avert the
alarming killings being registered.
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Yusuf Okwonga Adek, the Cultural Head of Pageya Chiefdom has equally asked his
colleagues to step up community outreaches in their respective areas and preach
against murders but instead root for respect to human lives.
Okwonga added that culturally in Acholi no one is allowed to kill anybody
regardless of what they might have committed.
Okwonga attributed the increasing murder cases to economic hardships, land
disputes, domestic affairs, drunkenness, infidelity and lack of respect for one
another, especially among married couples.
Earlier, the Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson Patrick Jimmy Okema had
pleaded with religious, cultural and community leaders to help police join the
fight against murder which he says has gone high in Acholi Sub Region.
Emmy Daniel Ojara
Freelancer
