By KT Reporter
Running battles erupted in Yumbe Municipality on Tuesday morning, leaving residents shaken as violence and destruction spread through parts of the district. Police opened fire to disperse protesters allegedly led by Shekhi Kasim, a prominent driver and community figure, who was demonstrating against rumors of a proposed pork joint in the area.
Videos showing police officers firing in the town are circulating widely on social media, and a photo of a protester bleeding heavily has gone viral, fueling outrage and concern among residents. Police are yet to comment on the incident. Kasim staged the protest, citing cultural and religious sensitivities, drawing both support and criticism.
Some district officials accused him of inciting disorder and undermining what they describe as a legitimate business initiative. Yumbe District is largely dominated by Muslims, making the religious sensitivities particularly heightened.
The Prime Minister of Aringa Kingdom, Fadhil Lemeriga Kujo, condemned the violence in the strongest terms, calling it foreign to the community. “Aringa Kingdom has endured many historical challenges, from the Turko-Egyptian period to the arrival of South Sudanese refugees, but this violence is unprecedented,” he said.
Aringa Kingdom, home to a diverse population and several significant religious institutions—including the only basilica in central Africa at Lodonga, the Anglican headquarters at Eleke, and the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council offices in Yumbe—called for calm. Kujo urged the Interreligious Council of Uganda to convene a dialogue between Muslims and Christians immediately and warned the armed forces to exercise restraint.
He also appealed to Muslim residents to avoid ransacking properties and businesses owned by Christians, noting that such actions could cause long-lasting damage to community relations. “Aringa land belongs to us all, and we should tolerate each other,” Kujo said, extending wishes for a quick recovery to those injured.
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