By Godwin Abedican

Arua

An ongoing brawl among Arua city’s gang groups is causing uproar and security concerns across many parts of the city leaving the city dwellers in fear.
Arua city has a number of gang groups with funny names to identify themselves such as the Baboons, Chicken-no-pass, Fire Eaters, Sansiro boys, Janjamin and others with specific areas of operations in the city.

According to the heads of security, there has been a disagreement among the different sections of the gangs hence fighting ensued among them in which one was left deed and revenge attacks carried out. As a result of this the security has been responding with patrols in which there have been gunshots attracting questions from the public.

Ham Ezama Muzamil, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC), Arua Central Division terms these gunshots as a response from the security and a means of ensuring public safety. “We are carrying out our operations with all the security agencies in order to arrest the situation. In case we leave them to fight because they are thieves, danger lies in them destroying people’s properties and harming the innocent. We have made some arrests but their ring-leaders are yet at large. Most of them are boys that are known and we are not going to take it lightly. If the worst comes to the worst, we shall change our approach also,” Ezama said.

The RCC warns the public against hiding information about the thugs which he says contributes to insecurity. “I want to advice the community to desist from conniving with these gangs because it manes work hard for us and increases insecurity. We have heard of allegations that some LCS and Police are working with these people, anyone who has evidence to that should produce and we shall follow the matter with the person directly,” he warned.

According to Hon. Rashid Oshino, the secretary for security Arua Central Division, this fighting among the groups is a key lesson to the leadership of the division and city as there are questionable motives for the formation of such groups. “As the government speaks about stable peace and the wanainchi keep complaining, I think something is wrong somewhere. There is too much insecurity though the police are trying to minimize the situation. It is now an organized group where there are groups from South Sudan and Kampala all coming here and wanting to impose direct controls on the groups here. That is where they are disagreeing and causing this instability. I call upon the community not to panic because the situation is now under control. Now that they have openly shown us that they are thieves, then taking a decision would be easy such that they can be arrested and charged accordingly,” Oshino explained.

 
Hon. Rashid Oshino explains the matter of the on-going insecurity

Amin Awadi the chairperson LC 1 Ozua cell who shares the same border with Enyau cell where some of the fights have been taking place say relative calm has returned in their areas much as the gangs are living in more fear. “A few days ago the situation was not good but today we toured the entire cell, and there is nothing wrong. The previous event was because the other group outside attacked their colleagues here and killed one of them, but when they wanted to revenge was when the security intervened then the gun shots started. The group members are still living in fear because their attackers have identified some particular members here that they want to kill and as such they now don’t gather in groups as it used to be”, Awadi said.

On his part, Rashid Kayenya, the Chairperson LC1 Enyau cell whose area has been affected by this is appealing for a peaceful resolution of these differences such that other residents of the area and city at large can live without fear. “Our position locally here is that, these guys have to get together and stop this fighting. It is affecting us from all angles. We need them to sit down and solve their differences,” he urged.

According to the security this is on the increase because of the relative peace in South Sudan, which has left many of them jobless and have retreated to Uganda with nothing to do but the only option is to start stealing.

Notable among areas associated with such gangs in the city include areas like Kirabu, Lumumba, Arua public, Adriko, Baruku, Airfield, Sansiro where the gangs always mobilize themselves and involve in suspicious acts including theft and others.

COVER PHOTO: Ham Muzamil Ezama, RCC Arua Central speaks during an interview By Godwin Abedican