The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Arua Resident City Commissioner (RCC) has confirmed that security forces, including police and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), were responsible for a night raid on a family home in Buraa Cell, Komite Ward, Ayivu Division. Three weeks ago, on the night of Monday, September 30th, 2024, a family in Buraa Cell raised an alarm after what they described as an invasion by police and UPDF officers at around midnight.
Peter Eluti, a family member, recounted how armed security personnel arrived at their home in unmarked vehicles, which were suspected to be police patrol pick-ups from Ayivu Division Police Station, accompanied by others dressed in army colors. The group spent nearly two hours trying to excavate what they believed was mercury and uranium used for earthing, installed by Eluti’s late father, John Eriaga Nikia, a former medical officer, for their home built in the 1970s.
“That night, those people came not as civilians but as security officers. When they arrived, they woke us up from sleep and their interest was on us, the five men sleeping in different rooms. When we came out, they told us not to shout otherwise they would kill us,” Eluti explained.
According to Eluti, the officers strategically positioned themselves around the home, with one stationed at the main road entrance, another near the toilet, and a third near the kitchen. Three more officers were stationed at the excavation site.
“Out of the three, two were dressed in civilian clothes while the four who were digging the spot dressed in army (UPDF) uniform but their shoes weren’t that of the soldiers. These people came along with the tools they used to dig the spot of the earthing,” he recounted.
Eluti shared that after seeing the deployment, he attempted to raise an alarm but was immediately subdued and held at gunpoint. The security officers proceeded to excavate the site for nearly two hours, reaching a depth of about two meters, but stopped when they encountered a concrete slab. According to Eluti, the officers, speaking in Luganda, mentioned they would return the following day with an excavator to continue their search.
Emily Adiru, daughter of the late Eriaga, also tried to file a case against the men who invaded their home. However, police officers at Ayivu Division headquarters refused to register the matter, stating that it was beyond their jurisdiction. Adiru, who is one of the administrators of their late father’s estate, expressed concerns about the family’s safety and said they feel their quest for justice is slipping away.
A week later, Salim Komakech, the Arua RCC, publicly apologized on behalf of the security forces and confirmed that the police and UPDF were behind the night raid in Buraa Cell, Ayivu Division. Komakech, however, refrained from revealing the identities of the officers involved or explaining why the family’s attempts to file a case were blocked.
He acknowledged that the approach taken might not have been ideal but maintained that security forces can conduct impromptu operations if deemed necessary for the safety of the community.
Without offering specific details on what the officers were searching for, Komakech, who also heads security in the city, mentioned that he had engaged with the officers involved.
Arrangements are being made for the security forces to meet with the family to address the situation, especially since no evidence was found during the raid.
To date, neither the police nor the UPDF has officially commented on the incident, and no case has been filed against the officers involved, despite the family’s initial attempts.
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