Omoro District Leaders Start Registering Visitors to Beef up Security following Increased Criminal Cases

Following an increased number of suspected criminals that pose as visitors in Omoro District, leaders have started a registration exercise for people coming to temporary stay in the area as part of curbing wrong elements.

Andrew Onyuk, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Omoro District said that the registration process began in the Lalogi and Lakwaya Sub-Counties at Te Opok Trading Centre on December 4, 2022.

According to Onyuk, the exercise comes in response to the area’s growing sense of unease due to a large influx of suspected criminals from Omoro District and other places.

“The registration exercise started yesterday 4^th December in Lalogi and Lakwaya Sub-Counties. The registration is being handled by local council leaders. This is done due to the increasing insecurity in the area as there is high inflow of wrong doers from different areas within and outside Omoro,” he said.

He added that all visitors in the district must produce their letters of reference to the Chairperson LCI of the current village they are residing in, and those without such letters are expected to leave.

The RDC stated that 65 visitors have already shown up for the registration process with letters of reference from their home LCI Chairpersons.

Onyuk warned the local council leaders against engaging in tribal segregation because in Uganda, it is legal for anyone to live anywhere as long as they follow uphold the law.

“Segregation based on tribe is not allowed and local council leaders should avoid it, because the constitution of the Republic of Uganda provides that anyone can stay anywhere if he or she is a law abiding citizen,” he specified.

The RDC disclosed that since some people won’t be able to return to their prior residences to collect their recommendation letters, the process will make it possible to identify offenders. As a result, background checks will be conducted and criminals will be detained.

According to the RDC, participants were the GISOs and, area Councillors of Lalogi and Lakwaya Sub-Counties, Chairperson LCII of Alwii Parish, Chairpersons LCI of Lalogi and Lakwaya Sub-Counties and community members.

The registration process is anticipated to be carried out in all of the villages within Omoro District as a means of reducing crime, and the local populace has reacted favourably to it.