Businessman Fatally Shot in Agago Amidst Surging Armed Violence in Acholi

Agago District is on high alert after a brazen daylight shooting claimed the life of local businessman Morish Ocana on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred around 7:00 PM as Mr. Ocana was leaving his retail shop in Kalongo Town Council.

According to Agago Resident District Commissioner (RDC) James Nabinson Kidega, an armed individual confronted Mr. Ocana, demanding a bag believed to contain the day’s earnings. When the businessman resisted, the attacker, who had a pistol concealed, fired a fatal shot before fleeing with the money.

Security forces have cordoned off entry and exit points in Agago as they intensify a manhunt for the suspect. RDC Kidega voiced concerns that the shooter might be part of a notorious group of armed assailants responsible for a spate of violent crimes across the Acholi Sub-region in recent months.

This attack is the latest in a disturbing trend of gun-related violence affecting Agago, Omoro, and Gulu districts. Several individuals have lost their lives, while others have sustained injuries, and businesses have suffered significant financial losses. Attackers have reportedly targeted mobile money agents, traders, and even police officers, stealing cash and firearms.

Notable incidents include the murder of a female police officer and the theft of her gun in Omoro on May 11, followed by a Shs10 million robbery near the same police station two weeks later. Further violence in Rom Cell and Koch Ongako Trading Centre has also resulted in fatalities. Gulu District and Gulu City have also experienced multiple armed robberies and killings since late April.

Major General Felix Busizoori, Commander of the UPDF Fourth Infantry Division, has attributed the escalating violence to cross-regional criminal cartels. He assured the public that countermeasures are being actively deployed to dismantle these networks and apprehend those responsible.

This incident in Kalongo was reported by the Daily Monitor.