Security officials in Lamwo District have intensified the hunt for suspected armed thugs who shot dead a 60-year-old woman at 3 am on Sunday morning.
Ms Jabese Anek, a treasurer for a village saving and loan association was reportedly shot dead with a single bullet beneath her left breast from her home in Okoro East, Pangira Parish in Lukung Sub-county.
Security officials say the deceased at the time of her murder was in possession of Shs 11 million belonging to a saving scheme in which she was a treasurer. But the thugs did not steal the money.
Lamwo Resident District Commissioner, Mr Jonathan Rutabingwa told Acholi Times on Monday that security officials are hunting for thugs.
“This [the murder] is an outrageous act that will not be tolerated in the district,” an agitated Rutabingwa said.
The RDC said four suspects have so far been arrested by Police following the incidence.
Aswa Regional Police Spokesperson, Mr Jimmy Patrick Okema told the Press on Monday that police visited the scene of crime and recovered Shs 11 million in two separate houses belonging to the deceased.
Okema said the incident indicates that illegal guns are still many in people’s hands that use them for theft and murder.
“Security officials are closely following up with the matter, investigations are already ongoing. We want people to be cautious and report suspicious individuals with illegal guns,” Mr Okema said.
He said the deceased was taken to Padibe Health Center III for postmortem test to find out the cause of death.
Last week police arrested five suspect it describes as hardcore criminals linked to numerous crimes in the Acholi Sub-region. The suspects have since been transferred to the Police Special Investigations Department in Kireka, Kampala for interrogation.
Last month, Police recovered three guns from suspected thugs in Gulu and Amuru District believed to have been bought or stolen from South Sudan and used to terrorize locals in Gulu Municipality.