Arua RCC Welcomes Transformed Criminals, Vows To Protect Them
RCC Kumakech (in Blue Suit) joins local leaders and the leaders of the transformed criminals in a group photo after the function on Wednesday Photo Credit Andrew Cohen Amvesi.jpg
ARUA. At least 200 criminals in Arua city including some of their leaders have come out publicly to denounce criminality.
The criminals who used to rob people of their property, came out through their main umbrella body dubbed: ‘Arua City Ghetto Youths.’
They were happily received by Salim Kumakech, the Arua Resident City Commissioner (RCC), during a function held in Osu cell, Pangisa ward, Arua Central Division on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
During the function, Kumakech asked the transformed criminals to talk to their remaining colleagues to also come out and start a new life.
He promised to protect the transformed youths while ensuring that they benefit from the different government programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and EMYOOGA among others.
Kumakech said it is very important for youths to desist from criminal acts so as to make Arua city a peaceful place for the local people and investors.
“If Arua is a peaceful city, investors will come. You who are here, even if you don’t have a paper, you will get something to do and earn money on a daily basis. But investors will not come and invest in West Nile, invest in Arua, for as long as they keep hearing that there are very many thugs in Arua city, they will not come,” Kumakech said.
“The investors will stop in Mbale, they will stop in Lira, they will stop in Gulu, they will stop in Hoima and the rest of the towns in Uganda, here they will not come. So, for me, I’m very proud of you, the ‘Fire Eaters,’ the ‘Janjamins’ and the other groups that you are showing the world that you can come out, live within the means to which society can support you,” Kumakech remarked.
He said they are going to look into the Arua Ghetto Youths’ memorandum read by one of their leaders, Rashid Osino, promising that some of the issues raised in the memorandum will be honored by the government.
Key in the memorandum, Osino said the Ghetto Youths lack employment opportunities, shelter, recognition, and limited access to education and government programs among other things.
He appealed to the government leaders to work on the challenges faced by the Ghetto Youths if the rate of crime in Arua City is to be reduced.
It is for this reason that Rashul Osuga, the Arua Central Division Speaker, said his council is going to ensure that a budget is passed every year to transform the Ghetto Youths in the Central Division of Arua City.
He said money will be voted for construction of modern washing bays, welding plants and other skilling centers for the youths to earn a living.
Judith Drate, the Arua City Community Development Officer, urged the Ghetto Youth’s to get organized in groups and be known to her office so as to benefit from the different government programs.
She thanked the leadership of Arua City Ghetto Youths for taking the lead in changing the mindset of their members, adding that she will continue working with them to transform the lives of the Ghetto Youths.
Moses Oringi of West Nile regional Civil Society Network, commended the transformed youths for the right decision they have taken to come out publicly.
“We cannot judge you based on your past, the past is gone, let’s focus on the future. So, don’t think that your sin is too much that you can’t be forgiven by God, it can still be forgiven. What we need to focus on now is how to move forward with you,” Oringi advised.
Two notable religious leaders from the Muslim and Christian faith, also joined the function to give spiritual guidance to the transformed criminals.