By KT Reporter
Acholi Religious Leaders under their umbrella body Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI) are appealing to authorities to investigate and hold accountable perpetrators of the violence that rocked Gulu city on December 6.
Chaotic scenes were witnessed in Gulu city early this month as NUP Candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine visited the city for his campaigns.
Unknown goons armed with sticks raided several shops attacking innocent locals as uniformed armed security personnel attempted to block Kyagulanyi from accessing his campaign venues, resulting in injuries of several of his close aides.
The clerics made their calls on Monday while issuing their end of year message to the public under the theme “Act Now For A Peaceful World”, as the country heads for the general polls on January 15 2026.
Archbishop Emeritus of Gulu, John Baptist Odama, also ARLPI Chair said such brutal incidences do not portray peace and democracy in the country.
He added that the violent acts also don’t reflect the conduct of Acholi people who don’t stand for tribalism and racism but love and peace linving among them.
The clerics condemned the violence meted on the innocent people of Gulu city by Police, Uganda People’s Defence Forces, and organised street gangs warning that such acts have no place in a democratic nation like Uganda.
Concluded the clerics: “We once again strongly condemn the brutal violence meted out to innocent people in Gulu City by the Uganda Police Force, Uganda Peoples Defence Forces and a group of organized street gangs. Such acts of violence have no place in our country and democracy and must be investigated and addressed immediately. Perpetrators must be brought to book. We reiterate that the Acholi community are a peace-loving people that accepts and lives with people of all races, tribes, ethnicity and other cultural backgrounds…”
In response to the violence witnessed, political leaders from various opposition political parties and independent political figures in the Acholi Sub-region resolved to form an Acholi United Opposition Parties Forum (AUOPF).
The leaders under AUOPF are drawn from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Democratic Party (DP), National Unity Platform (NUP), and the People’s Fight for Freedom (PFF).
In a resolution, the leaders condemned what they described as violent disruption of presidential campaign activities and the brutalisation of civilians in the districts of Nwoya, Amuru and Gulu City during the period.
The opposition politicians led by their chairperson and former Gulu Municipality legislator Christopher Acire over the weekend issued 13 key resolutions among them a call for legal Action against the Perpetrators.
The forum intends to pursue cases against local leaders who planned, funded, or commanded the violence, including pursuing private prosecutions, arguing that no one is above the law, regardless of office or influence.
The clerics and politicians’ call for justice comes barely a week after suspects whom the police had initially arrested on December 18 and linked to the violent incidence during Kyagulanyi’s campaign visit were sentenced to community service before being released.
On December 18, the police announced the arrest of 41 suspects whom they say were linked to the violent assaults and looting within Gulu City on December 6.
However last week when 23 of the suspects appeared before Augustine Alule Koma, the Gulu Chief Magistrate, they were charged instead with common nuisance contrary to article 160 (1) and (2) of the penal code acts. The charges aren’t related to the earlier stated reasons police arrest.
They were consequently released on December 23 and will serve a two weeks community sentence within the court premises for two hours during week days.
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