Two Ayivu Division officials were injured during an attack by angry traders at Odramacaku Market in Arua City on Monday, in a violent protest against the prolonged closure of the Ugandan side of the border market over Ebola fears.
The officials, led by Ayivu Division Mayor Marlon Avutia and Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Ayivu, Jonah Mbigiti, had visited the market to enforce Ebola Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) following the prolonged closure of the Ugandan side of the border market.
The exercise, however, turned violent when the officials were confronted by a large crowd of traders armed with sticks and clubs. The traders, drawn from both Uganda and DR Congo, accused the authorities of unfairly restricting business on the Ugandan side while traders across the border in DR Congo continued operating despite the country having recorded Ebola cases.
The traders said the continued closure had caused them significant financial losses, leaving many struggling to meet obligations such as school fees and other household expenses. The confrontation escalated when some members of the crowd reportedly kicked and beat Mbigiti, leaving him injured on the ground. Mayor Avutia narrowly escaped the angry crowd after fleeing to Odramacaku Police Post, where he sought refuge and called for additional security.
The situation remained tense until joint security personnel were deployed to the trading centre. Security forces later fired tear gas and live ammunition as they moved to disperse the crowd. Three people were reportedly injured during the confrontation, including a Congolese national. URN captured scenes of the chaos as the angry crowd pursued the officials and shouted threats.
In a statement issued late Monday evening, Avutia recounted how he narrowly escaped being killed by the mob. He said the traders were angry over what they described as excessive enforcement of Ebola SOPs, arguing that Ugandan authorities continued to restrict their businesses while traders on the DR Congo side were allowed to operate freely.
Avutia said the officials had gone to the trading centre to implement the health measures but were confronted by traders who accused government agencies of destroying their livelihoods.
The two officials were later rescued by the army, while the situation at Odramacaku remained tense amid growing anger among traders. The confrontation is the first major public backlash from traders over the prolonged closure of border markets following the emergence of Ebola cases in the region.
Ugandan authorities closed markets and restricted cross-border trade at several crossing points with DR Congo more than a month ago after the Ebola threat emerged and positive cases were reported. The measures were intended to limit the movement of people and goods across the border and reduce the risk of transmission.
However, traders at Odramacaku say the restrictions have placed them at a disadvantage because businesses on the DR Congo side have continued operating, allowing their counterparts across the border to maintain access to customers and markets.
The traders argue that the continued closure of the Ugandan side is threatening a cross-border trading economy that has supported communities on both sides of the border for decades. For now, the market remains closed on the Ugandan side, with tensions between traders and authorities unresolved-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
