Huts in previous revenge attack in Kitgum district. Revenge attacks are fairly common in the Acholi region
About 55 huts were yesterday torched in a revenge attack in Alero sub country in Nwoya district.
The arson was triggered after a man identified only as Okwera, said to have been in his 30’s, died on Tuesday this week at his mother- in-laws home after alleged taking poison.
It is said the deceased had a quarrel with his wife after they failed to reach agreement on how to sell off their 50 sacks of groundnuts.
Okwera’s death irked his relatives who on Tuesday night attacked the deceased’s mother-in-law’s home, setting huts ablaze. The fire spread and consumed 55 huts in the surrounding.
The LCIII chairman of Alero Sub County, Paul Okeny said the family of Okwera had earlier accepted to pick his body for burial only for them to turn up in the night to set huts on fire.
“People whose huts were burnt are now living in total fear because the attackers said if the postmortem report find that Okwera was murdered, they will carry out more attacks,’’ said Paul Okeny.
Okwera’s body was yesterday transferred by the Police to Gulu referral Hospital for postmortem which is expected to be carried out today.
The LC3 Chairman appealed to police to deploy in the area to prevent any violence between the two families.
He called for well-wishers including the office of the Prime Minister to help the families whose huts were razed.
When contacted, Nwoya District Police Commander Dan Okello confirmed the incident and said police had deployed in the area.
In March this year, over 30 huts were torched in another revenge attack in Okii Village in Koch Goma Sub County in Nwoya district after a man died at his mother-in-law and his family touched 30 huts in retaliation.