Arua District Issues Statement On Brutal Murder Of DHO

ARUA. Arua district officials have issued a statement on the brutal murder of Dr. Paul Bishop Drileba, the Acting Arua District Health Officer (DHO).

Dr. Drileba was on Saturday, November 23, 2024, killed by an angry mob in Oyeku village, Ajia sub-county in Arua district where he had gone with his lawyer and surveyor to start surveying 80-acres piece of land he earlier bought in the area.

In the statement issued by Alfred Okuonzi, the Arua district chairperson, the district leadership condemned the manner in which their own was murdered and called for speedy investigations into the matter.

“The Leadership of Arua district is deeply shocked and saddened by the brutal murder of the Acting District Health Officer, the Late Drileba Bishop Paul. This wicked and atrocious act is a reprehensible attack on humanity, democracy, and the values of compassion and tolerance,” the statement read in part.

“As a Council, we strongly condemn this barbaric act in strongest terms and extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends, and the relatives. We also stand in solidarity with the family, community and people affected by this senseless tragedy. This act of violence is a stark reminder of the dangers of extremism, hatred, and intolerance. We must come together to reject such ideologies and promote a culture of peace, harmony, understanding, and respect for human life,” Okuonzi added in the statement.

Okuonzi, however, urged the public to remain calm and instead work towards preventing such acts in the near future.

“We call upon the police to conduct a thorough investigation into this heinous crime and bring the perpetrators to justice. As police do their part, we also urge everyone to remain calm, vigilant, and work together to prevent such acts of violence in the future,” Okuonzi stated.

According to the police report, Drileba went with a team of seven people but as they were opening the boundaries, a group of more than 50 people armed with pangs, axes, bow and arrow attacked them thus cutting the Doctor to death.

However, a surveyor identified as Arnold Andruale, the lawyer and other casual workers managed to escape through the nearby bushes. Some of them who were injured during the attack are now receiving treatment in different health facilities in Arua.

Unfortunately, Drileba was cut with a sharp object on the chic and the ear leading to loss of blood and by the time the area police of Ajia reached the scene, they found he had already died.

At least two suspects have been arrested to help police with investigations into the matter besides establishing the suspects in the case, arrest and produce them before courts of law.

Bernard Atiku, an expert in land matters also the Chairman Arua City Land Board advised the public that according to the Constitution of 1995 Article 237 and the Land Act Cap. 227, one is supposed to first obtain a certificate of customary ownership and then convert the same to freehold or demarcate and subdivide to ascertain the exact size of land for each individual, family or clan having a share in the customary land.

“But what we are seeing is people agreeing to transact in land that is not yet registered as stipulated in the laws of the country hence these irregularities leading to these barbaric criminal actions. My opinion is that let the government roll out mass customary land registration and later the individuals, families, clans or communities can then go ahead and formalize the individual ownership of Leasehold and Freehold where they can engage in land transactions with limited or no problems of ownership and size or boundaries,” Atiku, the former Ayivu County Member of Parliament (MP) guided.