Residents live in fear of gang attacks

Several families living along the Kenya-Uganda border in Teso North, Teso South, and Butula constituencies are living in fear following a surge in crime.

According to witnesses, the gang attack their targets before fleeing to the neighbouring country.

For the last two months, at least five elderly women above 90 years have been sexually assaulted and killed with at least 20 people left nursing serious injuries.

Additionally, two acres of sugarcane plantation and several houses have been destroyed by the gangs in Teso South constituency.

According to residents who spoke to The Standard, four gangs known as Team Kapedo, Team Vietnam, Team Freedom, and Team Seven Brothers are behind cruel and heinous acts.

Locals blame security agencies for sleeping on the job stating that the gangs operates from as early as 5 pm and they raid homes, and storm funerals armed with machetes and crude weapons.

The latest incident was in Okilidu village, Teso South on Friday last week during the funeral of one of the locals when the youthful gangs stormed the ceremony.

The altercation between the gangs and locals turned into chaos leaving eight residents nursing serious injuries with several women being sexually abused. This violence lasted for three days. According to residents led by James Okidu, the most affected by the gangs’ attacks are women, especially the elderly.

“It seems like the gang has taken over the three constituencies because a few days ago they stormed the assistant chief’s office armed with machetes and chased him away and locked the office and started abusing women sexually,” said Okidu.