Local Council Leaders Charged with Murder of 80 Year Old Woman

Ajani Sub County LC 3 Chairman and 5 other suspects are in police custody and charged to for the murder of an 80 year old woman. The suspects accused the victim of practicing witchcraft, and ordered the community to kill her. 

Police in Aswa East region and Pader district, has identified the victim as, Akongo Mary, a peasant farmer of Acamuling village, Paibwor parish, Ajani sub-county in Pader district. 

Information gathered indicates that on the 20.09.2023 at around 5pm, Mwaka Christopher, the LC 3 Chairman, Ajani sub-county, Okeny Francis, the LC 2 Chairman Paibwor, Odongo Robert, the LC1 Chairman of Acamuling village and Rubangakene Denis, the GISO Ajani Sub-county, caused the arrest of the victim and arraigned her in a  Kangaroo court at the home of Oyet Yusuf, where they accused the victim, before the mobilized community members for practicing witch craft. The victim forcefully apologized to the community and the local leaders..

It is at this stage that the LC3 Chairman, instructed the community to kill the victim and burn her home. She was tortured, while being led from the home of Oyet Yusuf upto her home. The angry mob killed her and set her body on fire. Her homestead was also burnt.

The matter was brought to the attention of the police in Pader, who responded to the scene of murder, documented it and carried out a post mortem. The other arrested suspects include; Oyet Yusuf, Ochaya Francis, Akello Lucy, Ayeno Shilah, Ali Concy and Alima Sunday. Efforts are in place to trace for the other suspects still in hiding and on the run, and bring them to justice.

"As the police, we strongly condemn such acts of impunity. There is no justification at all for the actions of the suspects.  We are confident, our homicide team, will fast track the matter to court," Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson said.