Prof. Omaswa calls for grassroots response to Teso youth gangs

SOROTI - The chancellor of Soroti University, Professor Francis Omaswa, has urged the Iteso Cultural Union to take a proactive lead in establishing organised community groups to combat the alarming rise of youth gangs, notably the gate-crashers locally known as Okadibong in the Teso sub-region.

Prof. Omaswa made the remarks as the chief guest at a thanksgiving and award ceremony honouring the top 14 S.4 and S.6 students of 2025 and their teachers from Ngora High School on March 28, 2026.

He emphasised the urgent need to address challenges facing the youth in Teso districts, warning that if not effectively managed, they could escalate into serious problems in the near future.

He attributed the growth of these gangs to a lack of community engagement, suggesting that fear or neglect has allowed the situation to worsen. He said that by working together as a community, the problem can be addressed collectively.

Community-led solutions

Prof. Omaswa advocated for the formation of organised village committees that would meet regularly to guide youth behaviour and provide constructive activities, including competency-based education that emphasises practical problem-solving.

He said this approach would empower young people to become self-sufficient and create their own job opportunities, adding that strengthening community ties is key to addressing the Okadibong phenomenon.

“The cultural union should play a key role in engaging communities, ensuring that we maintain oversight of everyone within our society,” he stated.

Reflecting on his tenure as chairperson of the COVID-19 national subcommittee on community engagement, Prof. Omaswa shared lessons from initiatives in Ngora district, where village health committees led by LC1 chairpersons, alongside cultural and religious leaders, were established.

He said these committees proved effective beyond health matters, helping to restore order and accountability within communities.

“When issues arise, like a boy stealing oranges at night, these groups step in to resolve such matters, and they have helped reduce teenage pregnancies and other negative behaviours,” he explained.

Prof. Omaswa advocated for the formation of organised village committees that would meet regularly to guide youth behaviour and provide constructive activities, including competency-based education that emphasises practical problem-solving. (Credit: Delux Emmy Alomu)

Leaders sound alarm

His remarks come amid growing concern from local leaders, including Bishop Michael Okwii Esakhan of the Kumi Church of Uganda, over increasing gang-related activities in the region.

While preaching at Ngora High School, Bishop Esakhan warned that greed is increasingly affecting the youth in Teso.

He called on the Iteso Cultural Union, the Church, and government leaders through the LC system to work together to address the issue, noting that neglected children pose a risk not only to families but to the wider community.

He also observed a rise in cases of learners stealing property and urged parents to closely monitor their children while instilling strong spiritual values.

Students rewarded

During the ceremony, outstanding students were recognised, with seven top candidates from S.4 and seven from S.6 receiving awards.

The top three students, who each scored 20 points, received accolades, laptops, smartphones, and mattresses valued at nearly five million shillings, provided by the school and its alumni.

Parents and guests also presented goats, bulls, and other gifts to celebrate the students’ achievements.

John Bosco Okwaja, chairperson of the Ngora High School Old Students Association, urged alumni to support their former schools, saying students in Teso should not have to travel far in search of quality education.

Okwaja, who is also the principal at the National Farmers Leadership Centre in Mpigi, said academic performance has improved significantly since the introduction of awards for top students and teachers, with more than seven million shillings allocated this year.

The school’s headteacher, Eliphaz Ewalu Opolot, said many students excelled in both O and A levels last year, prompting the thanksgiving event. He encouraged parents to also recognise and reward teachers.

Prof. Omaswa urged students to take charge of their future, emphasising discipline, determination, personal hygiene, and rest as key to success.

He recalled that the former Teso District was once among the best-performing regions in Uganda, earning recognition from colonial authorities for its honesty and hard work, and called on schools to restore that legacy.

He also pledged support to Bishop Esakhan to ensure schools under the Church of Uganda maintain high standards of leadership and performance.

Christine Amongin, an orphan from Otaamirio village in Pallisa district, shared how her uncle supported her education after her father’s death, attributing her success to faith and hard work. She encouraged future candidates to value all subjects, whether arts or sciences.

Ngora High School currently has over 1,800 students and 166 staff.