Inadequate rehabilitation of locals is a leading cause in crime in Lango- leaders

28 February 2023, 9:10 am

By Nancy Atim

LANGO – Leaders in Lango sub region are worried following a surge in crimes  recorded in North Kyoga Police Region.

The Crime Report- 2022 which was launched on by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martin Okoth Ochola indicated an increase of crimes reported to police by 18% compared to the previous year.

“It is my pleasure to present the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report for 2022 as a form of accountability to the population on how the Uganda Police Force is fulfilling its mandate as stipulated under Article 212 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. In 2022, we note that there was an 18% increase in the number of crimes reported to Police from 196,081 cases reported in 2021 to 231,653 cases mainly due to the full opening of the economy after the Covid-19 lockdown and growing confidence to report crime to Police”, said the IGP.

According to Ochola ,out of the total cases reported to Police in 2022, 68,405 cases were taken to Court, 26,749 cases were not proceeded with, while 136,499 cases were still under inquiry citing an improvement compared to 2021 where 65,008 cases were taken to Court, 60,095 cases not proceeded with and 70,978 cases under inquiries

The report also indicated that North Kyoga region registered 3,743 cases of theft, 3,648 cases of common assault the highest among the policing region s around Uganda (Alebtong-623, Lira-477, and Apac-443), 1,841 cases of domestic violence ( Lira-353, Amolatar-341), 185 cases of homicide, 713 cases of defilement ( Oyam-109), rape 66 cases,

Police records show that most of the theft cases were mainly motivated by economic gain.

As a result, leaders in Lango say the high poverty rates amongst the youth and couples in the region is the main catalyst in driving crime. Last year, North Kyoga Region recorded various crimes committed including; rape, defilement, murder, house breaking and theft.

James Akung Wapakabulo, the local council III chairperson, Abia Sub County in Alebtong district said the crime report having North Kyoga in the lead with 17,605 cases higher than those recorded in Kampala metropolitan citing that this portrays a bad image of the region.

Akung said the leading contributor of crime in the region is late night discos at events within the community witnessed in weddings, funerals and other community events that pull large number of youths from different areas who later engage in immoral acts like drinking, smoking, doing drugs that eventually push them into committing acts like stealing food crops from peoples gardens, defilement, house breaking among others.

“When events are held in Abia Sub County, youths come from the areas of Baar, Ogur, Alito who always have a tight network”, added Akung.

He further appealed to religious leaders, cultural leaders and other stake holders to implement ban on night discos that tend to pull youths who destabilize the community.

Local council III Chairperson, Adwari Sub-county, Otuke district, Simon Obong Opio said the high crime rates in the region can equally be attributed to culture which is currently having two cultural heads which has to be addressed to help culture in playing a role in instilling morals among its people.

Opio also said the issue of human rights is also making people develop wing and not accepting to be punished upon committing a crime that is coupled with ignorance about the law and its importance calling upon police to strengthen community policing.

“Police have also failed in addressing cases forwarded to them and avoid taking in bribes because this denies justice to the citizens

Meanwhile, David Kennedy Odongo, Aletong district chairperson said the rising cases in Lango is alarming and indication that locals are engulfed in poverty and equally being ignorant about the law.

He also appealed to different stake holders to develop best implementations to reduce crime in the region.

Just like the others, Linda Auma Agnes, Lira district woman Member of Parliament said poverty among the locals leads to anger and hatred which ignites crimes like domestic violence especially among the married people.

Auma who is also the speaker Lango Parliamentary Group said people in Lango region did not get enough rehabilitation services need after the insurgency in northern Uganda. According to her, this would have helped a lot in fight trauma amongst the people.

She also showed dissatisfaction on police who release suspects upon receiving bribes prior pending investigation which also leads to little trust on police. 

“This is making people the law in to their hands,”Auma added.

Former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Hon. Daniel Omara Atubo said social conditions and poverty in the region have triggered crime in Lango.

He also noted that intuitions such as police and judiciary are malfunctioning citing that the courts have backlogs of cases before the courts of law.