Arua City Chaos: Stray Bullet Hits Police Constable as Two Die in New Year Mob Unrest

Arua City — A police constable has been shot in the stomach by a stray bullet fired by fellow officers during a crowd-control operation in Arua City, as violent mob unrest left two people dead in the early hours of the New Year.

According to the West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson, SSP Josephine Angucia, the incident occurred on January 2, 2026, in Ayivu East Division, as police responded to a volatile situation triggered by an alleged domestic murder and subsequent arson attacks.

Territorial police in Ayivu East are investigating multiple offences, including murder, arson, and causing grievous harm, following events reported at about 4:00 a.m. in Ojepi Cell, Aliba Ward.

SSP Angucia said the chain of events began on January 1, 2026, when Jurua Scandle, a 28-year-old Lugbara male resident of Ojepi Cell, and his wife, Opiru Gloria, a 25-year-old housewife, went to Aliba Trading Centre to celebrate the New Year.

The couple reportedly returned home at around 3:00 a.m., where a domestic dispute escalated into violence.

“At around 3:00 a.m., they were sighted going back to their home. At 4:00 a.m., the two started a fight in which the husband is suspected to have strangled the wife to death before fleeing the scene, leaving the body in the house,” Angucia said.

Upon discovering the body, relatives of the deceased allegedly mobilized a mob that torched 15 houses belonging to the suspect’s family and destroyed other property in what police described as retaliatory violence.

Police were deployed to restore order, but were met with resistance as the mob reportedly pelted officers with stones. In an attempt to disperse the crowd, officers fired aerial warning shots.

During the operation, a stray bullet fatally struck Otubo, a 20-year-old peasant from Odrovu Cell, who died instantly.

At the same time, Police Constable Wadri William, attached to Ayivu East Police Division, sustained a gunshot wound to the stomach from a stray bullet. He was rushed to Arua Regional Referral Hospital, where he is receiving treatment.

Police investigators visited the scene, documented evidence, and recovered 13 spent cartridges for ballistic analysis. The bodies of Opiru Gloria and Otubo were transferred to Arua City mortuary for postmortem examinations.

No witness statements were recorded at the scene, as residents reportedly fled during the chaos, and no arrests have yet been made. The prime suspect, Jurua Scandle, remains at large.

Investigations are ongoing under Ayivu East Division reference CRB 001/2026.

Police strongly condemned the progression from domestic violence to murder, mob justice, arson, and attacks on law enforcement officers.

“The public is urged to resolve disputes amicably and report crimes through lawful channels rather than resorting to mob action,” Angucia said, warning that all those involved in the unlawful acts will be arrested and prosecuted once investigations are concluded.