Youth in Northern Uganda go on rampage, destroy cars after Police disrupts night party

Pader, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police are hunting for a gang of youth in connection with the destruction of several property worth millions of shillings in Pader Town Council in the wee hours of Saturday morning. The youth reportedly rampaged after police stopped their party at Hotel Perfect View around 11:30 pm on Friday night.

Hundreds of revellers were reportedly partying at a thanksgiving party organized for Retired Col. Fearless Obwoya Oyat, the new Pader LC V Chairperson when police stormed and dispersed them for violating the nighttime curfew and restrictions on social gatherings as part of the COVID-19 control measures.

The intervention of the police didn’t go down well with the revellers who fought back and pelted the officers with stones. They later vandalized the windscreens of two vehicles, window panes and commercial premises for several hours. Ramadhan Tai, the Pader District Police Commander confirmed the incident to Uganda Radio Network-URN in an interview on Sunday.

Tai says that Police swung in action to disperse the youth since the party had gone beyond the nighttime curfew in violation of the COVID-19 control measures.  He says that some of the revellers turned wild and started destroying property before police calmed down the situation.

According to Tai, two people believed to be part of that group are in police custody. “I can confirm that we have two suspects and we are going to arrest more,” said Tai.  He said that they have commenced investigations into the matter, adding that all those connected to the mob action will be apprehended and arraigned before court.

Tony Okello, a businessman in Pader town Council says that the rowdy youth shattered the glasses in his doors and windows, security lights, and DSTV dish at his business premises.