URA operation in Arua city leaves one dead

Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Moses Acidri,  who was reportedly shot by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) enforcement officers during an operation, has died.

Acidri 24, a resident of Pamachi village and a saloon operator at Okollo Town Council sustained gunshot wounds on Wednesday after URA officers reportedly opened fire while attempting to recover unregistered motorcycles in Okollo Town Council.

David Agbara, the LC III Chairperson for Okollo Town Council says that Acidri who was shot in the stomach died at around 8 pm shortly after undergoing an operation at Nebbi General Hospital.

According to the local officials at Okollo town council, the other three victims of the shooting Patience Atizuyo 13, Derick Opari 22, and Jovan 19 are still in critical condition at Nebbi General Hospital.

Ronald Afidra Olema, the Member of Parliament for Lower Madi County demanded that the officers be arrested.

“All of the affected victims are not motorbike riders but rather ordinary unarmed civilians now nursing injuries. We need lasting solutions as West Nile to this uncalled-for killings and we need to come to resolve the matter”, Afidra said.

A team of four officials from URA headquarters in Kampala has been dispatched to the West Nile to investigate the incident.

The incident happened on Wednesday as the URA enforcement team who were coming from Arua attempted to impound a numberless motorcycle from a rider only identified as Abeja. In the ensuing fracas, the officers reportedly opened fire and injured four people who sustained wounds on the leg and stomach.

Chispus Obuni Sunday, an eyewitness said the URA enforcement officers opened fire when a group of the residents attempted to block them from impounding the motorcycle.

“The officers started shooting to disperse the crowd who had started pelting the URA officials with stones”, Obuni said.

Silvester Kiwanuka, the Uganda Revenue Authority Customs manager for the Northern region however declined to divulge information about the incident saying he is currently on leave.

David Agbara, the LC III chairperson for Okollo Town Council condemned the incident describing it as unfortunate. Agbara appealed to URA to sensitize the locals about the importance of paying taxes rather than shooting at them.

The latest incident comes just less than two months after a woman was killed and two others injured as URA enforcement officers were involved in an accident while chasing a suspected motorcyclist near Rhema Hospital in Arua city.

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URN