LC1 CHAIRPERSONS WARNED AGAINST HANDLING CRIMINAL CASES

By Godwin Abedican

Arua

Security leaders in Ayivu Division, Arua city have warned LC 1 chairpersons in the division against handling criminal cases. Speaking during a meeting for all the LCs in the division on Monday 20th May 2024 at the division headquarters in Onduparaka, the DPCs of the division noted with concerns that many LC1s tend to involve themselves in handling criminal cases ending up complicating the matters when taken to police.

SP. Arnold Arinaitwe, the DPC Ayivu Division West, further warns of punitive measures against any LC1 who will be arrested in relation to such. “We have had the challenge of case management; you find LCs are managing criminal cases which is too risky and uncalled for. Criminal cases should be forwarded to police and even if they are civil and you see that you are not going to manage, forward to police because some civil cases end up becoming criminal. For us we can handle and manage,” Arinaitwe appealed.

According to SP Kaheesi Gerald, the DPC Ayivu Division East, since some LCs have personal interests in some of the cases, they have sometimes influenced their communities against the police during times of arrest of suspects. “We are getting resistances from the community. When we are arresting suspects, the community members become arrogant and don’t want to listen to the police. Someone does not know why the police have come to arrest a person but you find them resisting the person’s arrest. I would appeal to the community to join hands with us so that we are able to arrest wrong people and maintain security,” he asked

While speaking to the LCs, Charles Icogor, the Resident City Commissioner Arua, maintains that, it’s illegal for LCs to handle matters that are supposed to be forwarded to the police and courts of law warning of arrests of those who shall violate this. “I want to warn the in-disciplined LCs who try to suffocate some of these cases by covering them up that, if we get you doing that, the law will take its course. Know your roles, know your responsibilities, don’t overlap. There are certain things that you are not supposed to handle, refer to police so that the police can process and forward to the courts of law” Icogor warned.

According to the local council court act of 2006 the Local council court deals with civil matters ranging from debts, contracts, property damage, trespassing and customary matters such as land issues, family disputes and so on.

The Local Council LC1 is responsible for a village Local Council Courts provide relief to victims in the form of reconciliation, compensation, restitution, apology, fine, declaration or any other recourse deemed appropriate by law and social norms.

COVER PHOTO: Charles Ichogor the  RCC Arua speaking to the LCs during the meeting By Godwin Abedican