139 huts set a light in Zombo after murder of a businessman

Following the reported murder of The chairperson Zombo Tea Growers Cooperative union Jimmy Okello yesterday evening,  His family and relatives retaliated by setting alight 139  huts from the three villages of people they suspected to have orchestrated his murder.

According to the LC3 Chairperson Of Aka Sub_county Brian Oromcan, ” The 139 huts were set alight  from the three villages of  Agulu, Akol and Gwok Nyeri in Abanga Parish Aka Subcounty”.

Okello Jimmy was waylaid and killed using rudimentary tools in the evening of August 10th according to his wife Jane Giramia.

” He was Hit and cut with pangas, he was badly killed by those people, we had a child in the university and others are in secondary school,  I don’t know why some one would do that to my husband”, Giramia told this Publication.

The District councillor of Zeu Sub_County Roy Masendi said ” The  huts were burnt   yesterday evening and today morning until police from Paidha and  and updf  from Got Laju responded”.

He added that ” many people are homeless and some shops were also razed down by the irate community. One person is admitted at Zeu Health center III as I talk now but the situation is calm now”.

A man only identified as Udubi who was injured yesterday during the violent clashes has passed locals say .

On Saturday morning, report about escalating clashes were reported by locals as clashes between the two rival community escalates.

The murder of the businessman is associated to a long standing land wrangles.

By press time locals say there was no security presence.

The westnile region police spokesperson SSP Josephine Angucia said they are investigating the case.

“The territorial police of Zombo district are investigating an incident of murder where one Okello Jimmy male adult aged 61years, Alur by tribe, Chairman Tea Co-operative Union Zombo was murdered by unknown people in Akanukuma village near Kagera river valley on 10th July 2023 at around 8:30pm. The deceased is the resident of Gwokonyeri village, Abanga parish, Akka Subcounty in Zombo district and was waylaid while on his way from watching football match at Ayaka Primary school play ground located in the same Akunukuma village, Abanga parish, Zombo district” The statement reads in part.

She also added that 
” The deceased was waylaid together with two other people namely Ongewun Charles and Rwothomio Ivan Anewa who escaped the attack by the perpetrators. However in the morning of 11th August 2023 at around 8:00am, people believed to be relatives of the deceased revenged by attacking three villages namely Gwokonyeri, Akor and Agulu and burnt over 100 grass thatched houses, destroyed banana plantations, looted properties and injured one only identified as Oduburu. When the matter was reported to Zeu police police station, a team of Police officers led by OC CID Zombo district visited the scene accompanied by UPDF officers attached to Gulaju military barracks in Zombo, they examined the scene and documented it, recorded relevant statements from witnesses, and restored calmness through community policing” 

How it started

Police say ”  the deceased could have been killed as a result of a long standing land dispute between Jupadaa clan and Jupacheno clan. No arrest made yet as the named suspects are on the run, however, police is tracing for them. Investigations continue into the murder incident under Paidha Police Station CRB 070/2023, as well as Arson and malicious damage to properties.” 

In may this year, more than 70 huts were also set alight in Paidha Sub_County in retaliation,  following the mysterious murder of two persons with hearing impairment.