One of the four individuals allegedly shot by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) enforcement officers in Madi Okollo Town Council has lost their life at Nebbi Hospital. Moses Acidri, a resident of Pamachi Village, Adraa Parish, Offaka Sub-county in Madi Okollo District, fell victim to the gunfire during a URA operation to impound a numberless motorcycle.
The incident occurred when UPDF soldiers attached to URA opened fire during the operation, resulting in fatalities and injuries among the locals. By Thursday evening, three other victims, including 13-year-old Patience Atizuyo, 22-year-old Derrick Opari, and an individual identified as Jovan, were still at Nebbi Hospital nursing injuries sustained during the crackdown.
Madi Okollo District lawmaker Joanne Aniku Okia condemned the tragic event, urging calm among the community while awaiting the intervention and outcome of discussions with URA Commissioner General John Musinguzi. The deceased’s family and district officials are set to engage in a dialogue with a team dispatched by URA, led by Col Cassette Wamundu.
Local leaders expressed strong disapproval of URA’s actions, with Okollo Town Council LC3 chairperson David Agbara likening URA enforcers to the authoritarian rule of the 1970s and 80s. Concerns were raised about the agency’s use of force, prompting calls for accountability and compensation for the victims.
David Agbara criticized URA for resorting to highhanded tactics and urged the tax body to cover burial expenses, medical bills, and provide compensation for the deceased and the injuries sustained by others. Jackson Banduni and Ogoko Sub-county councilor Patrick Atiku demanded accountability from the government and called for responsible actions from URA.
This is not the first time URA enforcers have clashed with civilians during enforcement operations. In November of the previous year, an incident resulted in one fatality and two siblings critically injured when a URA vehicle abruptly stopped, causing a collision with a motorcycle. Prior to that, a suspected smuggler was shot dead by URA enforcers in Koboko District, sparking public outrage and confrontations.
Locals have accused URA officers of being “trigger happy” in dealing with suspected smugglers in the region. Despite previous incidents, there are no official records to indicate whether any of the involved URA enforcers have faced legal consequences for their actions. The community now awaits the outcome of the ongoing discussions and investigations into the recent tragedy in Madi Okollo.
