Police Catch Suspects Skinning Goat, Arrest 32 in Lira

What the report says

Police in Lira City arrested 32 suspects in an intelligence-led operation aimed at people authorities say were linked to criminal gangs that had been troubling residents and business operators. According to Dokolo Post, officers from Lira City Central Police Station, working under North Kyoga Region, carried out the operation on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in areas including Railway Quarters, Labour Line, Kitgum Stage and the surroundings of Lira Bus Park.

The police said the crackdown came after reports that suspected gangs had been targeting people at homes and business premises. North Kyoga Region police spokesperson Patrick Jimmy Okema said some suspects were apprehended during the operation, including individuals allegedly caught skinning a suspected stolen goat at night near Kitgum Stage. Others were said to have been preparing to carry out robberies.

Police also reported recovering suspected weapons, including pangas and hammers, as well as opium. All 32 suspects are being held at Lira City Central Police Station pending screening and further action. The police described the exercise as part of wider efforts to break up suspected criminal networks in Lira City and nearby areas.

The case highlights continuing concerns about street crime and gang activity in urban areas of northern Uganda, where police often conduct targeted operations in response to community complaints and intelligence reports.