Security personnel in Amuru are hunting for ringleaders of yet
another youth group accused of terrorizing residents in the district.
Code-named ‘Mac Wangi’ group, an Acholi phrase that loosely
translates as ‘Fire Burns You’, the errant youth have been waylaying residents,
raping girls and breaking into shops.
A list compiled by Odur village Local Council officials in the newly
created Guruguru Sub-County identified some of the offenders who disguise
themselves as a youth farmers’ group in the area as Reagan Okello, Osama Sunday
Kaggwa, Michael Ocula, Brian Okot and Ronald Opwonya among others.
Alex Olweny, a concerned resident revealed that the gang members
smoke marijuana and drink alcohol beyond curfew restricted times because there
are no security personnel to patrol Parabongo trading centre.
//Cue in: "Litini eni ticgi….
Cue out.... three weeks ago."//
Translation: “The latest incidents involving this gang included rape of a
teenage girl after they duped the girl that her father was calling her before
they intercepted her and raped her in a rice garden at around 9:00 pm, three
weeks ago.”
Led by Reagan Okello, the group also attacked the home of Michael Oyet, the
village LCI Secretary accusing him of masterminding their arrest on trumped-up
criminal cases. Okello was later arrested and charged for malicious damage to property
and criminal trespass.
He was arraigned before Amuru Grade I Magistrate court and later
remanded to Otwe Government Prison while his accomplices remain at large.
Jonathan Apuwae, the Amuru District Police Commander revealed that
they are hunting for other members of the group.
//Cue in: "We are first….
Cue out.... pursue those people."//
Geoffrey Oceng Osborn, the Resident District Commissioner says that they have
resolved to crack down on the group members for destabilizing the peace and
security of the residents, especially around Parabongo trading centre, along the
Gulu-Nimule highway.
//Cue in: " This Mac Lyet….
Cue out.... history very soon."//
In February this year, police also battled gang groups code-named; Mapari Meni and Abut Squad gangs who terrorized residents of Olwal trading
centre causing fear.
At least 20 members of the gang including their ring leaders were
arrested and penalized for their actions. The gangs are a replica of the ‘B-13’
group that first terrorized residents in neighbouring Gulu City; Kitgum
Municipality and Lamwo Districts in 2018.
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and latr Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.
