Insecurity grips Kitgum Municipality as Aguu gangs terrorise residents

23 October 2026, 10:19 am

By Otim Moses

Residents of Walinga Cell, West Land A Parish, Lulojo Ward, in Central Division, Kitgum Municipality, are living in fear following a rise in criminal gangs locally known as Aguu.

The alarm was raised during a community baraza held in Walinga Cell on 20 October 2026. The baraza was organised by Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU), in partnership with ADRA Uganda, under the STRENGTH Project, which provides platforms for communities to discuss social and structural barriers to wellbeing.

Residents accused security agencies of inaction, saying the gangs had made it difficult to conduct business and were stealing property, including goats and chickens, as well as breaking into shops.

Olanya David Okot, a resident of Walinga, called for a joint security operation involving local vigilantes to curb the gangs.

“A joint security operation with local vigilantes should be carried out to curb the situation; otherwise, the community will be forced to take the law into its own hands,” he said. He also appealed to Central Division leaders to install security lights in dark spots.

Onge Merino Lol, a political leader and former Kitgum Municipal Council leader, said every household should keep dogs and that the LC1 leadership structure should be better organised to coordinate security alerts.

He said gangs had stolen his chickens three months earlier. He added that when he caught a suspect armed with a bow and arrow and handed him over to local leaders, no action was taken.

Ocheng Geoffrey Adriko said some gang members lived in hostels near Kitgum Comprehensive College and attacked people in the evening, citing lax hostel rules on movement at night.

He attributed part of the problem to students from distant sub-counties, including Kitgum Matidi, Orom and Lagoro, who lack parental support and turn to criminal gangs to survive. He appealed to parents to monitor their children.

Makareber Nyeko Ben, the LC1 chairperson of Walinga Cell, said criminal gangs would not secure the future of young people and blamed unemployment for fuelling crime. He urged young people to enrol in government programmes such as the Youth Livelihood Programme and the Parish Development Model (PDM).

He also called on the government to establish rehabilitation centres for young people struggling with drug addiction, whom he said were undermining peace in the community.

Hon. Angeyo Filda, Female Councillor III for Lulojo Ward in Central Division, blamed parents for neglecting their responsibilities. She recounted how her own son joined a criminal gang, was arrested twice and imprisoned, but later reformed and is now working in Dubai.

She called on Kitgum Municipality to open more roads to facilitate patrols by security personnel and local vigilantes.

Ocaya Alexis, the RHU team leader, thanked residents for highlighting their challenges and called for community vigilance and joint security operations to restore peace and allow people to move freely and conduct business.