Police in Gulu on Wednesday afternoon fired live bullets into the air as they pursued suspected thugs at Kaunda Grounds, just 250 meters away from the main police station.
At least eight bullets were fire sending residents into panic.
According to police sources who preferred not to be named, at least eight suspects were picked from Pece channel during the raid (a steam that runs across Kaunda Grounds).
The men are reported to be part of a racket that has been attacking residents of Gulu town using machetes and iron bars.
On arrest, the suspects were driven in the official car of the Gulu Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and a Toyota Mark II to Gulu Central Police where they were being held by press time.
The arrests were carried out by police and plain clothed security operatives armed with AK47 assault rifles.
Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Aswa Region Police Public Relation Officer (PRO), confirmed the arrests but decline to give any details.
Okema said revealing information regarding the suspects would jeopardize police investigation.
The police publicist said other suspects were still at large. The arrest of the iron bar hit men was reportedly aided by those already in police custody.
Following the killing of Richard Oryema, a 17-year- old S4 male student of Gulu Army Secondary School last month, police has intensified its operations to crack down on the thugs.
Oryema was hit on the head with a blunt object and died. The cause of death was hemorrhage due to broken skull.
At least 120 suspects have been arrested in connection with attacks on civilians.
George Labeja, the Gulu Municipality Mayor has criticized police on the numerous arrests carried out. Labeja says the arrests have been counter -productive since people are still being attacked by men wielding machetes and iron bars.
He says police has been slow in resolving the problem since it has taken several months, something that he said could have taken only two weeks.
Labeja, a former paramilitary when conflict raged in northern Uganda said the suspects should be shot on sight.
But Capt Santos Okot Lapolo, the Gulu RDC disagreed and said police should be allowed to do its work. Lapolo warned residents against mob justice, saying the law should be allowed to take its course.
