Eye Media Reporter | July 3, 2026

LIRA – Security leaders and community stakeholders in the Lango Sub-region have raised concern over increasing cases of crime linked to alcohol abuse and night discos, warning that the trend is threatening public safety and social stability.

The Lango Sub-region, which comprises Alebtong, Amolatar, Apac, Dokolo, Kole, Kwania, Lira, Otuke and Oyam districts, as well as Lira City, continues to register high levels of crime, with authorities attributing many incidents to excessive alcohol consumption, drug abuse and violence at night entertainment venues.

According to the Police Annual Crime Report 2025, the North Kyoga Policing Region, which covers Lango, ranked fourth among Uganda’s 32 policing regions with the highest crime rates after recording 12,728 criminal cases during the year.

Security officials say the worrying trend has continued into 2026, with police frequently handling cases of murder, mob justice, theft, assault, rape and defilement, many of which are allegedly committed under the influence of alcohol or originate from fights at night discos.

Among the recent incidents was a violent clash between students of Apac Seed Secondary School and members of the community during a disco at Agweng Trading Centre in Apac District on April 5, 2026, leaving seven students injured.

In another incident on May 3, 2026, Kenneth Odon, a 16-year-old student of Kangai Secondary School, was stabbed to death during a fight over girls at a disco in Arwotcek Parish, Amolatar District.

Lira City also recorded a disturbing case in which a 20-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by more than ten intoxicated men after leaving a hangout at Grand Paradise Hotel along the Lira–Kamdini Highway.

Police also conducted an operation in April that resulted in the arrest of about 100 suspected criminals from several drinking joints on the outskirts of Lira City.

Authorities blame the widespread availability of cheap illicit alcohol for increasing consumption, especially among young people and low-income earners, leading to school dropouts, family breakdowns, poverty and crime.

Assistant Resident City Commissioner for Lira City, Bonny Okello Alele, described alcoholism as one of the biggest emerging security threats in the city.

“Some people think security is only about criminals, but alcoholism has become one of the biggest threats in our city. Alcohol selling at Shs1,000 per bottle is destroying our society,” he said.

Okello added that security operations continue to find large numbers of intoxicated young people in public places.

“During one of our daytime operations, we arrested about 27 people around VH Public School by 9 a.m. They were already heavily drunk. You simply collect them like grasshoppers,” he said.

Alex Ogota, the LCIII Chairperson of Ibuje Sub-county in Apac District, said thieves are exploiting loud music played at night discos to carry out criminal activities.

“Bars in our trading centres play loud music throughout the night. While people are distracted, thieves move into villages to steal cattle, goats, chickens and even break into homes,” he said.

Pastor Thomas Opio Okene of Amuli Baptist Church in Kwania District called on government and local authorities to tighten regulation of night discos and alcohol consumption.

“Government has overlooked alcoholism and night discos for too long, and now we are paying the price. Lives have been lost, property destroyed and families broken. People are no longer drinking responsibly. More public sensitisation is urgently needed,” he said.

However, North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson Patrick Jimmy Okema maintained that the reported incidents should not be interpreted as a widespread security crisis.

“These are isolated cases and should not be viewed as a major security threat. However, they are issues that require the collective effort of religious leaders, the media, civil society organisations and the community to address,” Okema said.

Despite the reassurance from police, local leaders and residents continue to call for stricter enforcement against illicit alcohol, tighter regulation of night entertainment venues and stronger community awareness campaigns to curb alcohol-related crime across the region.

Do you have a news tip, comment or opinion? Reach Eye Media Uganda via editor@eyemediauganda.com or WhatsApp +256 778 225232 for publication.