On Monday night in Boroboro, Lira, a group of unidentified gunmen attacked a popular pork joint along the Lira-Soroti highway.
The ‘Container Pork Joint’, a local favourite, became the site of a tragic shooting that resulted in one woman’s death and two others injured.
Hellen Akello, the 28-year-old owner of the eatery, was fatally shot in the chaos. Vivian Ayuru and Marcy Auma, two patrons who were caught in the crossfire, are currently receiving medical attention for their injuries.
The attack occurred at around 11:30 PM. The assailants, who were riding on a motorcycle, stormed the eatery and opened fire without warning. Akello died while being rushed to Lira Regional Referral Hospital, located just 7 kilometres from the scene. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and the police are investigating.
The police are piecing together the events from eyewitness accounts. Three attackers were reportedly involved, and they fled towards Lira City after the incident.
SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga region police spokesman, has confirmed that detectives are on the case, collecting evidence and following up on leads. He has appealed to the public for any information that may help in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
While there was a decrease in reported shooting-related murders in 2024, with 188 cases compared to 300 the previous year, the impact of such crimes on local communities remains significant.