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Gulu headteacher accused of beating garden thief to death

21 September 2026, 11:35 am

An image of handcuffed suspected criminal.

By Agness Agilo

Police in Gulu District are investigating a murder case in which a primary school headteacher is allegedly accused of beating to death a man he found stealing from his garden.

The suspect is Paul Lakony, the headteacher of Pagik Primary School, who is in custody at Gulu Central Police station as investigations continue.
It is alleged that on 16 September 2026, Lakony went to his cassava garden and found Denis Onen uprooting fresh cassava. An argument over the alleged theft reportedly turned into a physical scuffle, during which Lakony allegedly beat Onen, leading to his death.

The District Police Commander for Gulu, Superintendent of Police Fred Bogere, confirmed the arrest to Speak FM, saying Lakony is being held on allegations of murder as investigations continue.

Fred Bogere the superintendent of Police the DPC Gulu district confirming the arrest.


Following the arrest, there were concerns over learning at Pagik Primary School. However, the Gulu District Inspector of Schools, Ms. Jackline Akello, told our reporter that the situation at the school is calm, with the deputy headteacher now in charge and lessons progressing normally.

Akello Jackline the Gulu district Inspector of schools on the normal learning at Pagik Primary school.
Investigator in protective suit walking through crime scene by the river side.

This incident once again highlights the growing concern over mob justice and individuals taking the law into their own hands over petty theft. While the loss of crops is a serious concern for farmers in Gulu, police have repeatedly cautioned the public to report such cases to authorities rather than resorting to violence, which often turns a case of theft into a capital offence of murder.