ZOMBO: Two Law enforcers attached to Uganda Revenue authority have been admitted in critical condition at Rhema medical Clinic in Paidha Town Council in Zombo district in west Nile sub region after they were badly Pelted with stones by some rowdy boda boda riders at Zombo trading center in Zombo town council.
The two who sustained head injuries met resistance after they impounded unspecified numberless motorcycles in their operation targeting riders with numberless motorcycles in the district.
The district councilor of Zombo town council Mike Joram Anyolitho confirmed that during the fracas, a gunshot sound was heard in the town which he believes was aimed at dispersing rowdy members of the public that turned out lawless as they allegedly resorted to pelting the officers with stones and other objects.
“A gunshot was heard in the town at around mid day and when I contacted my local leaders from the trading center, they affirmed that it was the URA law enforcers dispersing rowdy boda boda members who turned up against law enforcers who impounded their motorcycles” Anyolitho revealed
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By press time the two male victims who escaped the mob with serious head injuries were still nursing wounds at Rhema medical clinic in paidha town council.
The Chairperson of Zombo boda boda Association that has over 1500 registered members Fredy Onenarach has condemned the act of some of his members before appealing for more sensitization of the boda boda riders on tax benefits.
Onenarach also stressed the need for establishment of URA service center in greater Nebbi other than having only one stationed in Arua city that he says is very far for most riders in Zombo and greater Nebbi at large.
“It’s totally unacceptable to assault law enforcers and I call upon the riders to avoid that act. Many people who want to seek for services from URA find it far because the main branch is in Arua city which discourages many members” Onenarach told this publication immediately after the fracas.
Severally , clashes between URA law enforcers and members of the public especially boda boda riders have led to loss of lives and body Injuries in different districts of west nile sub region.
The district councillor of Athuma sub county Francis Bolingo has called upon URA officers to always apply minimum force whilst for enforcement such that the riders respect them.
Last year, there was a serious clash between members of Zombo boda boda association and URA law enforcers after they impounded motorcycles belonging to Congolese motorcyclists which later saw law enforcers from DRC also impounding fourteen motorcycles belonging to Ugandan nationals who went for businesses in DRC in retaliation.
The RDC of Zombo Rtd Lt Col Pius Alitema when contacted wouldn’t comment about the incident since he was in for security meeting and promised to get back to this publication later.
” I’m in still for a meeting and will contact you later” Alitema briefly said
The LCV chairperson of Zombo district James Oruna Oyullu has of recent rallied all boda boda riders in the district with numberless motorcycles and other missing traffic necessities to finalize with URA so that they are not pestered by the law enforcers whilst for enforcement.
” I call upon our people to always follow the law, those without number plates please try all possible ways of acquiring them so that you are not victims” Oyullu told hundreds of Youth who were attending a function at Ajei primary school playground in Nyapea Sub county Zombo district recently
Zombo district boda boda association has over 1500 registered members and many are struggling to get number plates which they say is costly.
The west Nile regional URA custom officer Silvester Kiwanuka confirmed to this publication that, indeed two of the law enforcers were seriously injured when the tax collectors were in for their regular operation in Zombo trading center Zombo town council in Zombo district.
Kiwanuka further condemned the action of the rowdy boda boda riders on officers who were acting within the confines of the law before revealing that the two victims are out of the woods.
” As we were for our normal operation this time around at zombo trading center , we got a man with unregistered motorcycle and when we calmly told him to follow us in the office he refused and eventually a mob descended on our staff and starting pelting them with stones. The stones broke the window glass and injured two of our law enforcers who are receiving treatment now but they are out of danger” Kiwanuka explained
