Fear and anxiety are spreading across the Acholi Sub-region following the fatal shooting of a mobile money operator by armed assailants in Omoro District on Wednesday night.
The victim, identified as 25-year-old Raymond Onen, was attacked while attending to customers at his mobile money stall in Kal Center Village, Ongako Sub-county. Residents say the incident happened at about 8:00 p.m. when two gunmen riding on a motorcycle stormed the trading centre and robbed people at gunpoint.
According to local leaders, the attackers confronted Onen and several customers before demanding cash and valuables. During the robbery, the assailants allegedly shot Onen twice, first in the leg and later in the chest, before fleeing with money and mobile phones.
Onen was rushed to St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor for treatment but died on the way due to severe injuries. His body was later taken to the hospital mortuary pending a postmortem examination.
Michael Kilama, the LC I Chairperson of Kal Center Village, said the attack has left residents living in fear, especially business operators who now feel vulnerable to armed criminals. He blamed the insecurity on the limited number of police officers deployed in the area.
Kilama noted that Ongako Sub-county is currently served by only a handful of officers, making it difficult to respond quickly to emergencies and criminal incidents. He called for reinforcement from both police and the army to restore public confidence.
The killing occurred just hours after local authorities held a security meeting aimed at cautioning residents about increasing criminal activities and advising traders to reduce late-night operations.
Omoro District Vice Chairperson Richard Otika described the deceased as a hardworking and disciplined youth whose death has deeply shaken the community. He urged residents to cooperate with security agencies and remain alert as investigations continue.
Meanwhile, Omoro Resident District Commissioner Emmanuel Okot confirmed that security personnel had launched investigations into the shooting and were following possible leads to identify and arrest the suspects. He appealed to members of the public to share any information that could help in tracking down the attackers.
The latest incident adds to a growing wave of violent crime reported in Omoro District, Gulu District, and Gulu City in recent weeks. Authorities say at least three people have been killed by armed attackers over the past month, while another victim survived with injuries.
Security reports also indicate that criminals recently stole a firearm from a private security guard in Gulu City and robbed several motorcycle riders at gunpoint. One of the stolen motorcycles was later recovered near the Uganda-South Sudan border in Lamwo District.
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