Ebong Michael

Apac, Uganda | A violent confrontation between rival campaign teams in Apac Municipality has renewed concerns over growing tensions ahead of the election season, after several supporters were injured and a vehicle belonging to Maruzi County MP Akora Maxwell was damaged. Police said the incident occurred on the evening of January 5 in Agulu Division, Apac Municipality, when supporters of Akora encountered a rival group linked to MP Patrick Ocan as both camps returned from separate campaign rallies held in different parts of the division. North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson Patrick Jimmy Okema said the confrontation erupted after official campaign time, escalating into a fight that left more than ten people injured. The injured included men and women who were later rushed to hospital by police for medical attention. During the fracas, a Toyota Noah vehicle, registration number UBS 716L, used by Mr Akora, sustained damage. Police documented the scene and impounded the vehicle at Apac Central Police Station pending inspection. “A case of assault and malicious damage was registered to allow investigations into the circumstances under which the violence occurred,” SP Okema said, adding that statements were recorded from witnesses at the scene. In response to the incident, the District Security Committee convened a meeting with all aspiring candidates on January 6, urging them to restrain their supporters and commit to peaceful campaigning. Police, however, noted with concern that the complainant and some of the injured persons had not returned to follow up the case, calling on them to cooperate fully with investigators to ensure accountability. Security officials warned that failure by political actors to observe campaign schedules and guidelines risks fueling further violence, and stressed that the law would apply equally to all individuals involved in election-related disorder. The incident comes as campaigns intensify in Apac District, with authorities cautioning that tolerance and adherence to electoral rules are critical to maintaining peace during the polls. Source The post Election Clash in Apac Raises Concerns Over Campaign Violence appeared first on Dokolo Post.

Lira, Uganda | Police in Lira City are investigating the circumstances under which a middle-aged man was found dead on a railway line in Lira City East Division, raising fresh concerns about unexplained deaths in the area. The deceased has been identified as Otim Geoffrey, 54, a peasant farmer and resident of Agenga Cell, Anyomorem Ward. His body was discovered on the morning of January 6, two days after he reportedly left home to go fishing in Okole Swamp and never returned. Police said the incident was reported to Ngeta Police Station shortly after the discovery by the area Local Council I chairperson. Officers, together with scene of crime experts, documented the area and took statements from relatives and local leaders before transferring the body to the mortuary for postmortem examination. The North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson, SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, said investigators have opened a murder case against unknown persons as they work to establish whether the death resulted from criminal activity or other causes. “The circumstances under which the deceased ended up on the railway line are still unclear,” police said, adding that inquiries are focusing on the man’s movements prior to his disappearance. Residents of Anyomorem Ward expressed shock at the discovery, with some calling for increased patrols around isolated areas, including swamps and railway corridors, which are often deserted. Police have appealed to anyone with information that could help clarify the circumstances surrounding Otim’s death to report to the nearest police station as investigations continue. Source The post Lira Police Investigate Mystery Death After Body Found On Railway Line appeared first on Dokolo Post.

Lira, Uganda | Police in Lira City have launched investigations into the disappearance of popular local entertainer Ajoka Alango, after his residence was discovered open and in disarray, with personal belongings missing under unclear circumstances. Ajoka Alango, also known as Odyek Solomon, 33, a comedian by profession, was last seen on January 4 at his home in Ireda Shamba Cell, Lira City East Division. His disappearance was reported to police the following day by a relative, triggering a search and forensic inquiries. Preliminary police findings indicate that neighbours grew suspicious after finding Alango’s house wide open on the morning of January 5, with curtains pulled down and items scattered across the room, suggesting possible forced entry or a struggle. Efforts to contact him on phone were unsuccessful. Police say several valuables, including a mobile phone, laptop, hoofer and camera stand, were missing from the house. Officers later recovered two finger rings and two unidentified mobile phones from the scene, which are now being analysed to establish their connection to the case. According to the North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson, SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, a police sniffer dog was deployed to help trace the missing entertainer, while statements were recorded from neighbours and the complainant. Investigators are now focusing on tracking the missing electronic gadgets to reconstruct Alango’s movements and identify possible suspects. Police have appealed to members of the public to share any information that could help locate the comedian, as investigations continue. The disappearance has unsettled residents in the area, with some calling for heightened vigilance as police work to establish whether the case is linked to criminal activity. Source The post Police Probe Disappearance Of Lira Entertainer Ajoka Alango After House Found Ransacked appeared first on Dokolo Post.

Oyam, Uganda | With nine days remaining before the parliamentary polling date, National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate David Galla Okullu has officially stepped down from the race in favour of Willy Omodo Omodo, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer.  The announcement was made during a campaign rally at Aleka Subcounty, where Okullu declared his full commitment to Omodo’s candidacy. He explained that his decision was driven by a desire to promote service delivery and development in Oyam District, which he believes can only be achieved through cooperation with the ruling party.  As the former NUP coordinator in Oyam, Okullu urged other opposition members to reconsider their positions and align with the government for the sake of progress. He attributed poor service delivery in the district to persistent opposition politics and emphasized the need for unity under the ruling party.  He also expressed concern about the risks associated with chaotic political activities, including road tyre burnings, which he said were often directives from party officials. His move, he noted, was partly motivated by the need to safeguard his life and avoid involvement in such unrest.  Omodo welcomed Okullu’s decision and pledged to work closely with him in mobilizing support for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and all NRM flag bearers in Oyam District.  Source The post NUP Candidate David Galla Okullu Withdraws, Endorses Omodo Omodo Ahead of Polls appeared first on Dokolo Post.

By Opio Anthony, MLA Diabetes is no longer a distant medical condition confined to hospitals and textbooks, It has become a fast-growing public health emergency quietly affecting Ugandan families, communities, and the national economy. Yet despite its rising toll, diabetes remains dangerously misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and largely ignored. Uganda today faces a dual burden of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, both of which are increasing at alarming rates. As of 2024/2025, an estimated 369,100 adults in Uganda are living with diabetes, representing 2.2 per cent of the adult population of about 22 million. However, emerging studies suggest the true prevalence could be as high as 7 per cent, meaning hundreds of thousands of Ugandans may be living with the disease unknowingly. If current trends continue, diabetes cases could reach nearly 1.2 million by 2050, placing immense strain on an already overstretched health system. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that often begins in childhood or adolescence. It occurs when the body destroys its own insulin-producing cells. People living with Type 1 diabetes require daily insulin to survive. In Uganda, about 18,191 people of all ages live with this condition, many facing challenges of affordability and access to insulin and diagnostic supplies. Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for about 79 percent of cases in some regions, is largely driven by lifestyle and environmental factors. Rapid urbanisation, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, and genetic predisposition have fuelled its rise. A 2019 estimate suggested more than 1.6 million Type 2 diabetes cases, diagnosed and undiagnosed combined, with prevalence growing at 4.9 per cent annually. The most dangerous aspect of diabetes in Uganda is not just its prevalence but its silence. Research indicates that up to 89 per cent of people with diabetes are unaware they have the condition. Many only discover it after serious complications occur, blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, heart disease, stroke, or limb amputations. At that stage, treatment becomes costly, complex, and often inaccessible. Regional disparities further complicate the picture, while some studies show higher prevalence in the central region, rural communities are increasingly affected. Changing diets, reduced physical activity, and limited access to screening services mean diabetes is no longer an urban problem, it is spreading rapidly across villages and trading centres. Misinformation continues to worsen the crisis, persistent myths linking diabetes to witchcraft, curses, or sugar intake alone have delayed care for countless patients. Others believe herbal remedies can cure diabetes entirely. The reality is stark: diabetes has no cure, but it can be effectively managed. Early diagnosis, proper medication, healthy eating, regular physical activity, and routine monitoring can enable people with diabetes to live long and productive lives. Uganda must now respond with urgency, public awareness campaigns are needed to demystify diabetes and promote routine screening, especially among adults over 30 and those with a family history of the disease. Health facilities must be strengthened to ensure early diagnosis and continuous care. Equally critical is access to essential medicines, insulin, and blood-glucose testing supplies should not be luxuries. For children and young people with Type 1 diabetes, uninterrupted access to insulin is a matter of life and death. Prevention must also take centre stage, promoting healthier diets, reducing sugar and alcohol consumption, and encouraging regular physical activity are not optional lifestyle choices; they are national public health priorities. Diabetes is not just a medical issue, it is a development challenge. If left unaddressed, it will erode household incomes, increase health-care costs, and undermine national productivity. The silent diabetes epidemic is already among us, the cost of inaction will be far greater than the cost of acting now. Source The post With Nearly 90% of Diabetics Undiagnosed and Cases Projected to Triple by 2050, Uganda is Facing a Health Emergency in Slow Motion appeared first on Dokolo Post.

Apac, Uganda | Residents of Alworoceng Parish in Apac District remain gripped by fear following a wave of violence that culminated in the lynching of a 50-year-old man suspected of murder, police have said. The man, identified as Ume Saidi, also known as Anam Francis, was killed by an angry mob on January 5, 2026, at Amii-Amola Village, Ibuje Sub-county, barely days after another murder was reported in the same community. According to police, the deceased had allegedly gone into hiding after hacking to death Otim Moses on January 1, 2026. The situation in the village reportedly worsened after Saidi’s son, Ogweta Denis (21), was also killed by a mob, sparking retaliatory threats that caused widespread panic among residents. Police say the threats forced some villagers to abandon their homes over fears of further attacks, raising concerns about the breakdown of law and order in the area. On Monday morning, residents reportedly spotted Saidi hiding in a nearby bush and alerted others. Before police could arrive, a mob pursued and lynched him. Officers from Apac Central Police Station and Kidilani Police Post later recovered the body and transferred it to Apac General Hospital Mortuary for postmortem examination. Detectives are yet to revisit the scene for full forensic analysis. Police spokesperson for North Kyoga Region, Patrick Jimmy Okema, condemned the continued use of mob justice, warning that it only fuels more violence and insecurity. “Mob action is criminal and unacceptable. It undermines justice and exposes innocent people to danger,” Okema said, urging residents to cooperate with police and allow suspects to be handled through lawful procedures. By press time, no arrests had been made, but police said investigations into both the mob killing and the earlier murder were ongoing. Security officials say they are engaging local leaders to restore calm and reassure residents as inquiries continue. Source The post Fear Grips Apac Village as Mob Justice Claims Another Life appeared first on Dokolo Post.

Dokolo, Uganda | More than 150 supporters of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Apenyoweo Parish, Okwongodul Subcounty, Dokolo District have rejected claims that voters in the area are withdrawing support from Dokolo South MP aspirant Felix Okot Ogong, describing the allegations as false and misleading. Speaking during a meeting in the parish, Tom Ocen, the NRM Chairperson for Apenyoweo Parish, said the claims were propaganda being spread by opposition actors to intimidate and confuse supporters of NRM flag bearers ahead of the 2026 general elections. Ocen cited several development interventions associated with Okot Ogong in Okwongodul Subcounty, arguing that the projects have strengthened the aspirant’s support base and made claims of voter rejection untenable. Grace Atim, the coordinator of Felix Okot Ogong in Apenyoweo Parish, also dismissed the allegations, saying the aspirant has played a key role in promoting development in Okwongodul and Dokolo District at large. Another resident, Morris Ekol, said voters in the area remain focused on the January 15, 2026 elections, expressing confidence that they will vote for President Yoweri Museveni and Felix Okot Ogong. He cited peace and stability as among the key achievements influencing their decision. Residents also credited Okot Ogong for improvements in health service delivery. Betty Alejo praised his lobbying efforts that led to the upgrading of Anyacoto Health Centre III, noting that the facility has significantly improved access to healthcare services in Dokolo South. In a cross-party endorsement, Mary Otile, the Chairperson of the FDC Women League in Okwongodul Subcounty, said members of the opposition party are ready to support Okot Ogong. She cautioned against what she described as double standards in politics and urged leaders to stop confusing voters, instead encouraging them to back leaders with a clear development agenda. Addressing a separate gathering of more than 1,500 supporters in Northern Ward, Dokolo Town Council, Okot Ogong urged politicians to prioritise development-driven politics. He said leadership should be centred on lobbying for services and unity rather than identity-based politics and hate speech. Source The post Dokolo NRM Base Rejects Opposition Claims, Reaffirms Support for Felix Okot Ogong appeared first on Dokolo Post.

Soroti, Uganda | NRM parliamentary candidate for Soroti City West, David Calvin Echodu, has called on residents to prioritize leadership that brings tangible development over partisan loyalty, saying Soroti’s future hinges on effective governance. Speaking at campaign rallies in Oderai and Majengo wards, Echodu highlighted the city’s persistent challenges, including poor roads, insecurity, and uncollected garbage, as evidence of leadership that has failed to meet residents’ needs. “Soroti City deserves leaders who act, not those who talk. Our infrastructure, security, and sanitation are clear signs that residents have been underserved for too long,” he said. Echodu criticized his main rival, Jonathan Ebwalu of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), accusing him of decades-long failure to deliver development despite his party’s entrenched presence in the area. “If we continue voting for the same faces, nothing will change. Soroti needs leaders with vision and the ability to implement projects that improve livelihoods,” Echodu said. The candidate outlined his agenda, which includes road rehabilitation, enhanced urban security, improved waste management, youth empowerment initiatives, and stronger collaboration between city leadership and central government. He urged residents to reject election-related violence, emphasizing that peaceful voting is essential for democracy. Soroti City Resident City Commissioner, John Michael Okurut, expressed full confidence in Echodu’s leadership, praising his interventions in education, health, and social services as evidence of his commitment to community development. Deputy RCC for Soroti City West, James Small Chemitai, also addressed supporters, arguing that the city’s opposition-controlled areas have suffered stagnation and urging voters to “liberate Soroti City from underdevelopment.” Opio Enock, NRM Chairperson for Soroti City West, encouraged party supporters to campaign on development issues, warning against provocation and emphasizing the need for unity. Soroti City West is emerging as a key battleground, with NRM seeking to reclaim lost ground and opposition leaders working to maintain their urban influence. Source The post Echodu Pledges Development-Driven Leadership for Soroti City West appeared first on Dokolo Post.

Lira, Uganda | The leadership of Tekwaro Lango has clarified persistent confusion over the existence of rival cultural institutions in the Lango Sub-region. In a public notice issued this week, Counsel Patrick Okwir, spokesperson for Won Nyaci Me Lango, said claims suggesting a division between the Lango Cultural Institution (LCI) and the Lango Cultural Foundation (LCF) are legally unfounded and factually incorrect. Okwir confirmed that the only legally recognised cultural institution for Lango is Lango Cultural Institution, led by Won Nyaci Me Lango Eng. Dr. Michael Moses Odongo Okune, who serves as the Lango Paramount Chief under the legal status of a Corporation Sole. This status was affirmed in a corrigendum published under General Notice No. 966 of 2025 in The Uganda Gazette, Volume CXVIII, No. 29, of 8th April 2025. He explained that the Lango Cultural Foundation ceased to exist following a Constitutional Court ruling in Constitutional Petition No. 14 of 2017 (Kryspus Ayena Odongo vs. Eng. Dr. Michael Moses Odongo Okune and Others). A lead judgment delivered by Justice Irene Mulyagonja on December 2, 2022, declared LCF an illegal entity, stating that it cannot sue and cannot be sued, effectively stripping it of legal standing. Okwir also distinguished the defunct foundation from Lango Cultural Foundation Limited, a company registered on August 4, 2023, with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau as a business limited by guarantee. He emphasised that this entity operates purely for commercial purposes and has no authority over cultural leadership. The spokesperson urged journalists, commentators, law enforcement agencies, and the public to rely on verified legal instruments and court rulings when reporting on Lango cultural matters to avoid promoting illegal or misleading claims. “Won Nyaci Me Lango, headed by Eng. Dr. Michael Moses Odongo Okune, remains the only lawfully recognised institution of Lango cultural leadership,” Okwir said. Source The post Lango Paramount Chief Warns Against Fake Cultural Bodies appeared first on Dokolo Post.

Lira, Uganda | The Catholic Church in northern Uganda has received 14 new perpetually professed sisters, even as the Bishop of Lira Diocese, Rt Rev Sanctus Lino Wanok, warned families against misunderstanding religious vocations, which he said has increasingly led to disputes being taken to civil courts. The sisters, members of the Missionary Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church, made their final vows during a colourful New Year celebration at the congregation’s Mother House in Ngetta, witnessed by thousands of faithful, religious leaders and government officials from across the Lango Sub-region. During his homily, Bishop Wanok explained that perpetual profession marks a decisive and irreversible commitment, in which a religious sister freely renounces personal ownership and submits all aspects of life—including financial matters and burial arrangements—to the religious community. He said some families continue to treat religious life as temporary or conditional, a perception he described as harmful to both the Church and the individuals who choose the vocation. “When a daughter offers herself fully to God, families must also accept that offering in faith,” the bishop said. The ceremony followed traditional Catholic rites, with parents formally presenting the candidates, who later lay prostrate before the altar before professing their vows and signing lifelong commitments. Four other sisters celebrated golden jubilees, marking 50 years of service in education, healthcare and pastoral outreach. The event was attended by the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi, who commended the Church for its sustained role in social welfare, particularly through schools, hospitals and care centres for vulnerable children. She urged families to support religious vocations and cautioned against inappropriate public admiration of consecrated women, saying their calling is rooted in humility, service and spiritual discipline. Bishop Wanok also appealed for peaceful political engagement, urging leaders to reject violence and intimidation, especially as the country heads into an election season. He said faith-based values should guide leadership, stressing that genuine authority is founded on service rather than coercion. Source The post Lira Diocese Welcomes 14 New Perpetual Sisters As Bishop Wanok Urges Respect For Consecrated Life appeared first on Dokolo Post.