In Northern Uganda’s Morobi settlement, fear and tension have surged following a tragic incident where a South Sudanese refugee fatally shot a young boy. According to a press release by the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), the suspect, Chol Agok, seized a gun from a female Ugandan police officer and fled into the bush. He then entered a house in the settlement, where he found and killed a class five boy, also a South Sudanese national.

The CPA’s statement revealed that Agok is now hiding in the bush and has warned his relatives to leave the camp, threatening further attacks. The CPA urgently called on the Ugandan government to intervene and deploy police forces to address the deteriorating situation. The organisation emphasized the need for preliminary inquiries and swift justice to bring the killer to book. However, it was confirmed that Agok had escaped, and the police are reportedly hesitant to pursue him into the bush.

Witnesses told Oz Arab that residents are living in fear, as they worry about potential further attacks from Agok. Some families have started leaving the settlement, while others are requesting firearms from the police to defend themselves. Despite these pleas, the police have refused to distribute guns to the residents.

The Morobi settlement is home to both South Sudanese and Ugandan communities, who share a complex and often contentious relationship. Historical conflicts over land, grazing rights, and political power have fuelled tensions between these groups. The situation has been further exacerbated by a political split within South Sudan’s ruling party in 2013, leading to widespread violence and displacement.

This recent tragedy underscores the fragile peace in the settlement and the urgent need for effective security measures to protect the residents and prevent further violence.