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The Police in Amuria district have arrested four youths over the murder of Gabriel Elucu, a resident of Oolio, Kuju parish in Kuju sub-county.

Elucu was killed in the wee hours of Saturday after a scuffle that ensued during a marriage ceremony at the home of Moses Otim. The ceremony attracted several gatecrashers commonly known in Teso as Okadibong.

Police spokesman for Kyoga East Oscar Ageca on Monday, March 28, 2024, said the deceased was killed when he attempted to gatecrash into a marriage party to dance.

“On March 22, the deceased had gone to gatecrash a local wedding at the home of one Moses Otim, where he was attacked by youth hiding behind a mango tree,” Ageca said, adding that Elucu met his death at about 2:00 am on Saturday.

Police have four youths in their custody over murder charges and they include Moses Otim, Abraham Ecuru, Nocholas Otim, and Oouga.

“The two shall be arraigned in court in due course as our team finalises all the investigations,” Ageca explained.

Call for compensation

Back in the village, members of the Ibaser clan to which the deceased belonged have asked for 12 cows from the families of those now arrested to compensate their son.

Kuju sub-county LC3 chairperson Richard Epulu said the families agreed to pay 12 cows together with all the burial expenses.

“The cows are to be paid before the body is lowered into the grave on Monday. They have also agreed to meet all the burial expenses,” Epulu said.

The killing of Elucu has come two months after another youth in Apeduru sub-county, Amuria district was killed similarly.

Elucu is a father of one, according to Epulu who was engaged on Saturday mediating the two clans.

Amuria LC5 chairperson Moses Emabu expressed disappointment with the youth engaged in Okadibong and called on leaders to join hands to fight the vice.

“There is a high level of moral decadence in our society because morally, it is illegal to attend a marriage function when you are not invited,” Emabu said.

The genesis of Okadibong in Teso

Okadibong is a group of youth aged between 16 and 35 years mostly school dropouts who invite themselves to any function at night mainly to dance till morning.

As they dance, they also have orders from the owner of the home to play the music of their choice, give them access to drink with guests and dance with the visitors they deem fit for themselves.

They also eat the oranges in that home if any and uproot every crop they find at the home. However, if the owner of the home decides to switch off the radio in the middle of the night, they will beat up the guests and, in some instances, set the home on fire.

Amuria county MP who doubles as works state minister Musa Ecweru has promised to round up Okadibong in Teso starting from his home area where murder has occurred.

“I intend to lay a trap for these youth by holding a function in my home so that when they come, I will arrest them. It’s shameful for energetic youth to gatecrash into people’s functions,” Ecweru said recently.