Police in Gulu are appealing for a lasting solution to the problem of street goons which has fueled insecurity in the town.
They say that imprisonment of criminals that are part of the street gangs has not fully addressed the problem of crime and violence since these criminals are later released back to society.
Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Police spokesperson for Aswa region made the appeal following the death of Christine Anyeko, daughter of Bishop Nelson Onono Onweng, who was ambushed and stabbed several times by unknown assailants.
According to Okema, Anyeko is alleged to have been waylaid and assaulted by unknown people on her way from Koro.
Related: Poor Parenting to Blame for Incidents of Crime, Says Oulanyah
She was rushed to Gulu main hospital where she received treatment and showed signs of improvement and even got discharged, but died the next day.
“Unknown assailants stabbed her several times and the Bishop reported a case of assault but when she passed on, he retuned and the file changed from assault to murder,” Okema said.
He attributed crimes of this nature to the children and adults that live on the streets in Gulu, who often times engage in acts of robbery.
“We have been arresting these street children and men time and again, but this has not helped solved the problem. This is because they are set free after two or three months in prison, we need to find a lasting solution to this problem now” Okema told this website.
He said that people who have grown up on the streets have resorted to criminal activity as a means to survive.
“They snatch phones and women’s bags or fight people just to get money for food”.
He proposed that stakeholders support income generating activities as well as skilling such people
He however revealed that Police is working hard by mounting operations to deal with the issues of street goons. In one of such operations conducted on Thursday, at least 65 people were apprehended and now behind bars at Gulu central police station.
Earlier this week, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanya who was speaking at the burial of Christine challenged parents to do better on their parenting role in order to raise children who value human life.
“Before we even start to look to RDCs and DISOs what are we doing in our households and communities to ensure that we raise children who respect lives? It saddens me that young people are the one killing nowadays,” Oulanyah said.