The North Kyoga Region Police are intensifying efforts to uncover the details surrounding the brutal murder of a 22-year-old boda boda cyclist named Tom Otwii, popularly known as “Morning,” whose lifeless body was discovered on Sunday morning in Gwengabara on the Lira Soroti highway. Otwii, a resident of Omaa Cell, Boroboro Ward, worked at the Corner Boroboro stage along the highway.
Two individuals, Morris Jonga, 23, and another identified as Ocen, both fellow boda boda riders, have been apprehended in connection with the alleged murder. The suspects were reportedly with the deceased at Lela Tala Cell for a disco dance, which took a tragic turn when a disagreement escalated into a fatal quarrel.
According to Patrick Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga Region Police Spokesperson, preliminary findings indicate that the deceased sustained injuries, including bruises on his left hand, a broken jaw, and signs of violence around his mouth and neck. The exact motive behind the killing is yet to be established.
The case has been registered as murder at Lira-City West Division, and the body has been conveyed to Lira Regional Referral Hospital Mortuary, pending a post-mortem examination. Okema emphasized that the suspects in custody will assist the police in furthering the investigation.
An anonymous businessman from Corner Boroboro, where Otwii worked, described the victim as a disciplined individual known by the moniker ‘Good Boda.’ The tragic incident has left the community in shock, particularly given Otwii’s reputation for being non-confrontational and contributing positively to his family and community.
With a rising number of violent incidents in the Lango sub-region, particularly in Lira, Apac, and Kole districts, local authorities and law enforcement agencies are facing the urgent challenge of addressing the escalating violence and ensuring the safety of residents.
