By Bonny Odongo
The people of Lango were thrown into panic by the July 19 incident in which a Juba-based businesswoman Dorcus Achola was brutally murdered in a manner that most people thought could only be executed by none other than the barbaric rebels of the LRA.
Lira RDC Joan Pacoto (In Blue track suit) views the body of Dorcus Achola who was killed by unknown assailants in Senior Quarters near the military barracks on Saturday July18. (Photo by Bonny Odongo)
Achola, 21, never knew that a visit to her homeland loaded with the little dimes she had made from her business trip in the Southern Sudan capital Juba would turn into a big drum that would sound and bring that kind of crowd.
Residents of senior quarters, central division in Lira municipality were astonished after Achola was found lying dead in a pool of blood, beheaded by some unknown killers who were alleged to have been hired by her close friend Catherine Achiro so she could get away with sh 8.6 of the deceased’s money which was in her custody.
Achola, a mother of one and a former student of Agape Girls Secondary School, requested her parents in 2007 to allow her pack her belongings and shift to Lira town to begin a new life, especially doing businesses.
From mere scratches Achola’s business picked up very well and this gave her the courage to start commuting to Juba, trading in items like Soda, Beer, maize flour and other minor things; a decision which later turned her into millionaire that could be a target of buglers.
On the fateful week, the ill fated Achola had returned from Juba on July 16. Her intention was to go the next day and visit her parents Emmanuel Amute and Florence Amute who live in Aduku Sub County, Apac district.
Contrary to her schedule, Catherine Achiro advised her to postpone her trip to the village by a day so she could get for her free transport, an advice she heeded to. Unfortunately plan to end her life was on high gear, a plan that brutally brought her life to a sudden end.
Commenting on the murder, Issac Engola a brother to the deceased said the government should ensure quick dispensation of justice to the bereaved family.
He added that his sister was killed at a time when she was economically very productive and the government should do all that it take to ensure that every one responsible for the brutal and inhumane act are brought to book.
How was she killed?
Dorcus Achola on July 18 at night went for outing with Catherine Achiro but on their way back, some unknown panga wielding men stormed them.
According to neighbours, at around 12 am when these ladies were waylaid, there was a serious scuffle but alleged betrayer Catherine managed to escape leaving her in the hands of her killers.
Catherine quietly ran without making any alarm despite the fact that her close friend was struggling and screaming for help.
The Lira DPC Raymond Otim told this reporter that Catherine Achiro conspired with her brother Patrick Lumumba and hired the service of Pte. Charles Onama, Pte. Mbusa Philemon and LDU Omara Tom at a fee of sh 2m to kill the lady so they could take the money she came with from Juba.
NABBED: Part of the seven suspects who were nabbed for murdering Dorcus Achola at the Senior Quarters in Lira. From left to right Achiro Catherine, Sgt Tom Omara, Onama Charles and Mbusa. (Photo by Bonny Odongo)
Others are Auma Maurine and one Ayuk Sarah Harriet a Dinka by tribe who is said to have played a witch doctor’s role. But briefly eight suspects were apprehended and remanded over this incident.
“All these people participated in the killing of this enterprising lady with intent to take her money which was in her friend Achiro’s custody,” says the DPC. “We want to have these people committed for the high court so as to speed their trials,” he added.
Seven suspects remanded
Seven suspects including an LDU and two UPDF soldiers linked to this murder were charged and remanded up to August 5th before Lira chief magistrate Gabriel Nyipir (court number 164/8). But a number of villagers who congregated around the court building wanted to take the law in their hands and lynch them to death.
The 5th Division spokesperson, Captain Deo Akiiki following the murder of six people in Kitgum district by LDU Kenneth Opwonya recently warned that, “As an institution which is suppose to maintain peace in the country, the UPDF will not allow elements within its ranks to be a cause of insecurity to the people.”
The seven suspects brings to fourteen the number of those remanded at the central prison because of the grisly murders that has taken place in different places in Lango sub-region within just a period of one month.
Four murdered over land related conflicts.
Other four murdered over land related conflicts in Amac, Apala, and Adwari and Abako sub-counties. Luciano Otim, Adit Terociana, Milton Okello and Tonny Okodi a businessman who was murdered in Otwal sub county by unidentified robbers.
The community liaison officer at Lira CPS, Jodaga Gemonamola said many of these people were killed by their close relatives on matters regarding land disputes among people who have returned home after living in camps for twenty years.
Lira RDC, Joan Pacoto also district security committee chairperson said she would convene an emergency security meeting but at the same time urged the community to be conscious of their personal security.
“Be a guard to your own security and be conscious of your neighbours, friends and the boda you use,” Pacoto said.
To reduce the land conflicts, the Won nyaci of Lango Yosam Odur once advised the people going back to their villages to consider planting trees on their land boundaries.
But the people seem to have forgotten of their land boundaries especially after the twenty year long stay in the internally displaced persons camps.
If the land issue is not properly handled and some of the bad hearted LRA massacre survivors continued to grab land from widows, sons and daughters of their fallen neighbours, there would still be cases of night time murders similar to those we have witnessed.
Filed under: Features, Lira Uganda
My heart melts with deep pain I hear and read about what Langi, of all tribes and things, have opted to do. When I look back into the gone days, ‘ I dont want to be reminded’, of 2002-2003 when a flood of blood was not expensive to see.
Am prompted to ask, Langi we, wii wu owil oko kede ngo ame obin otimere i Barlonyo kede i Abia ca bo?
If any thing, that should have been too much for us to begin sheding fresh blood, more over, of our very own brothers and sisters!
When shall we settle down to develop Lango? Shall we be rich by killing ourselves? Or its a gate pass to heaven? Am not sure.
Lango is leading, if I am not just forgetting, in religoius practices. Now, kong dong apeny wu, Dini wu ni dong itiyo wunu kwene? Pingo pe inen gin atye bota bala tye boti?
We need one another. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!.
Lets focus on: Education, TIC ATEK, cato wil, dongo lobo kede mako dyere.
All the power weilding arms of the government must take it as a number priority to provide SECURITY to the CITIZENS. OTHERWISE, OBANGA APENYO WU IYE. REMEMBER: GOD’S JUDGEMENT, NO APPEAL!
Otherwise, WILOBO DUC BINO DANGERE ME NYERO KAKA AME NEKERE KEN GI kun gin obedo ocan akato duc i Uganda.
THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU ACT, OTHERWISE…