Amuru veterinary officer shot dead during Balaalo Eviction

26 January 2024, 12:20 pm

By Otim Moses Arapmoi

Amuru District Acting Veterinary Officer, Dr Samuel Ocora has been pronounced dead after he was shot on Thursday during Balalo evection.

Dr Ocora was shot on Thursday from Akee Village, Kololo Parish, Lakang Sub County in Amuru district. Efforts to transport him to Gulu city for treatment didn’t yield fruits as he died on the way at about 2am on Friday.

According to a statement released by the Amuru Resident District Commissioner, Mr. Stephen Odong Latek, Dr Ocora died while executing his mandate in the implementation of executive order number 3 of 2023 on the eviction of non-compliant Balaalo from Northern Uganda.

Latek said Dr Ocora was in the company of the DPC, Deputy DISO and some UPDF soldiers in a vehicle when the incident happened.

His statement reads; “They got the forces and in the course of driving back to the holding ground, one of the soldiers who had not secured his gun well by closing the safe cause, had a bullet released from his gun shooting the gun holder in the leg and continuing to penetrate the cabin to hit the DVO who was seated behind the co-driver’s seat”.

It added that; “The bullet hit him from the back and efforts to move him to the medical facility were futile. He breathed his last along the way”.

Latek said the incident was accidental and regrettable.