Residents vent anger over rising theft and insecurity

5 October 2026, 6:52 am

By Geoffrey Okwong

Residents in parts of Pader District have raised alarm over what they describe as growing theft of livestock, food and household property, with some saying the situation is creating fear and threatening the livelihoods of ordinary families.

The concerns emerged on Friday, October 2, 2026, during Stress Factor, a programme on 92.4 LUO FM that gives callers an opportunity to speak about issues frustrating them in their communities.

Several callers reported nighttime break-ins, livestock theft and alleged attacks on people travelling along roads, with some expressing frustration over what they see as worsening insecurity in their communities.

The callers used names on air that could not be independently verified, and their individual accounts could not immediately be confirmed.

One caller who identified himself as Master Planner, from Kilak, reported that thieves had broken into a barber shop at night and stolen all its property.

He also said some homes had been broken into, with residents allegedly locked inside from outside before their houses were opened and property stolen.

Master Planner questioned the length of prison sentences handed to people convicted of theft, claiming that some spend only two or three months in prison before returning to their communities.

He wondered why courts could not impose longer sentences on convicted thieves, arguing that keeping them in prison for longer could help prevent them from quickly returning to the same communities.

Another caller, Wod pa Ibutu Ilule, who identified himself as being from Omot Sub-county in neighbouring Agago District, described the frustration of raising animals and chickens throughout the year only to lose them suddenly to thieves.

He warned that unless the thefts are stopped, frustrated community members could begin taking the law into their own hands.

In Pader Town Council, Kony Paco, who identified himself as a resident of Paipir in Luna Parish, said suspected thieves had changed their tactics, alleging that some now steal goats and slaughter or prepare the meat at their homes.

He said the situation was becoming increasingly difficult for residents to tolerate.

Kony Paco further alleged that some of those involved were young men aged between 18 and 20 years who were targeting elderly women who had received money through the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) programme.

He said some elderly beneficiaries had used the money to acquire goats as a form of livelihood investment, only for the animals to later be stolen.

Another caller, Langoya, who identified himself as being from Pader Labongo, reported alleged ambushes along several roads, including Pader Labongo–Luzira, Luzira–Ogom, Pader Labongo–Kiteny and Kiteny–Paiula.

He said the reported attacks had created fear among residents, with some people now rushing home before 8pm to avoid being attacked or robbed on the way.

Langoya appealed to the government and security agencies to intervene, questioning why police deployed in different sub-counties could not conduct evening patrols along roads and in communities reportedly affected by the attacks.

He warned that if a suspect arrested for theft were to be killed by members of the community, police would likely record the death as a case of mob justice.

The suggestion reflects the level of frustration expressed by some callers, but mob justice is unlawful and risks the lives of people who may not have been responsible for the alleged offences.

The concerns raised on radio came just two days after Pader District Police Commander SP Jackson Bogere addressed councillors in Lunyiri on September 30, where he also spoke about challenges affecting community security.

Bogere told the councillors that all 23 sub-counties in Pader had police establishments, but pointed to communication gaps between police and local councils as one of the challenges affecting security coordination.

He called for greater cooperation between communities, local leaders and security agencies in addressing security concerns.

Bogere’s remarks came in the context of security cases reported in different places and on different days and were not a confirmation of all the theft incidents subsequently raised by callers on the radio.

However, his call for stronger communication and cooperation between police, local leaders and communities comes amid growing complaints from residents about theft and insecurity.

For families that depend on livestock as savings or a source of income, losing a goat or other animal can represent more than the value of the animal itself.

For an elderly person who has invested limited income in livestock, losing an animal can wipe away an important source of household security.

The concerns raised by residents therefore go beyond stolen property to questions of safety, livelihoods and confidence in the ability of communities and security agencies to protect people and their property.

The reports require further verification, including establishing the scale of theft cases in the affected communities and obtaining a response from police on the reported cases, evening patrols and measures being taken to protect residents.

Court officials could also provide context on sentencing for people convicted of theft, particularly in response to residents’ concerns about the length of prison terms.

Until such verification is obtained, the incidents raised by the callers remain reported community concerns rather than independently established evidence of a district-wide increase in crime.