BY OKIDI PATRICK
LIRA CITY, UGANDA: The Territorial Police in Lira City are investigating an incident of unlawful assembly and malicious damage to police motor vehicles that occurred on 15th June 2026 between 09:00hrs and 10:00hrs along the Lira–Soroti Highway near Hotel Komar in Lira City.
It is alleged that a team of law enforcement officers from Lira City Council conducted an operation at Uhuru Bar Boda-Boda Stage to impound motorcycles belonging to operators who had reportedly failed to pay taxes levied by the City Council.
During the operation, the officers encountered resistance from some suslected boda-boda operators. The situation escalated after one operator was arrested despite claims that he had already paid the required tax.
The arrest triggered unrest among a section of boda-boda riders who became violent and confronted the law enforcement officers. The situation was further aggravated when other individuals operating around the Uhuru Bar area joined the disturbance. The group subsequently blocked the Lira–Soroti Highway near Hotel Komar, disrupting traffic and public activities.
According to SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, the Police Spokesperson for
North Kyoga Region, Police officers from Lira City East Division Police Station, Lira City Central Police Station, and the Field Force Unit responded to the scene to restore calm and order. However, the demonstrators turned hostile and pelted stones at the responding officers. As a result, motor vehicle registration number UP 7722 attached to Lira City East Division Police Station and motor vehicle registration number UP 5599 attached to Lira City Central Police Station were damaged during the confrontation.
A reinforcement team from the UPDF based at Lira Barracks joined the police in restoring order. Tear gas and warning shots were fired to disperse the violent crowd and prevent further destruction of property and threats to public safety.
Twenty suspects were arrested and are currently detained at Lira Central Police Station on allegations of malicious damage to property. They include:
- Okene Gerald
- Okello Kenneth
- Okello Brian
- Eyeny Innocent
- Otim Joshua
- Odyeng Kenneth
- Okwir Isaac
- Emenyo Ronald
- Oleya Bonny
- Owal Benard
- Ogwang Moris
- Otim Robinson
- Okeng Daniel
- Okidi Jaspher
- Emuna Dan
- Apoka Tobby
- Acuma Isaac
- Okello Quinto
- Ocen Aron
- Ayo George
Following the incident, all barricades erected on the road were removed and normal traffic flow restored. Police officers have been deployed along the affected streets to maintain peace and order, while patrol teams from both Lira City East and Lira City Central Police Stations remain on the ground conducting regular patrols. Intelligence teams have also been deployed to gather additional information and identify other individuals who may have participated in the unlawful acts.
Temporarily, enforcement operations have been halted to allow investigations into the incident and alleged grievances of the boda-boda operators. Meanwhile, registration continues freely. Further updates will be communicated in due course. The situation is currently under control.
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