Removal of Police Station from Omoro Town Council Raises Security Concerns

The recent removal of the police station from Omoro Town Council in Omoro District has raised concerns among residents and leaders. Last week, police officers stationed at Omoro Town Council were transferred to Acet Town Council, a move that local leaders say was done without their knowledge or consultation.

Okellakwo Walter Lukwia, the chairperson of Omoro Town Council and head of its security committee, expressed dismay, saying his office was not informed about the reasons behind the removal of police from the area. 

According to Lukwia, the absence of a police presence in Omoro Town Council now poses a significant security threat to the residents, as the nearest police facility — Omoro Central Police Station — is about one kilometer away from the town center. 

Emmanuel Okot, the Omoro Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and chairperson of the Omoro District security committee, confirmed the removal of police from Omoro Town Council. He explained that the transfer is part of a national restructuring policy currently being implemented by the Uganda Police Force. 

Okot noted that Omoro Town Council was among the areas in the Acholi Sub-region selected under the new arrangement. The officers previously stationed in Omoro have been redeployed to the newly opened Acet Town Council Police Station, he said. 

Efforts to get a comment from David Ongom Mudong, the Aswa West Regional Police Spokesperson, were unsuccessful, as he did not answer repeated phone calls. However, Ednah Nyiraneza, the District Police Commander for Omoro District, reassured residents that Omoro Town Council will soon have a new police station as part of the ongoing restructuring process.