One arrested as Yumbe Police investigate violence in Aringa North MP campaigns

YUMBE - Yumbe Police say they have arrested one suspect and launched an investigation following violent clashes that erupted during rival campaign rallies in Aringa North constituency on January 10, 2026, leaving five people injured and deepening political tensions in the district.

The violence was at Tuliki trading centre in Tuliki village, Tuliki parish, Arilo sub-county, where Opposition candidate Karim Musa aka Komoro, was addressing supporters.

According to Abdulhamid Nuru, a victim and spokesperson for Komoro's campaign team, the incident started when a group allegedly supporting incumbent Aringa North Member of Parliament and National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag-bearer Godfrey Onzima arrived at the venue in a Fuso lorry armed with clubs, sticks, and pangas.

"We were holding a peaceful campaign rally when a group of people believed to be supporters of the incumbent stormed the venue and started beating our supporters. They threw stones at us and two others with a panga," Nuru said.

He further alleged that Onzima's team had been trailing Komoro's campaign for two weeks, with organised disruptions occurring at multiple venues after initially appearing in Keriwa earlier that week.

Komoro claimed that the attackers intended to kill him, but divine intervention spared him injury. He said five of his supporters were seriously injured and rushed to Yumbe Health Centre IV.

Contrasting narrative

However, Onzima denied the allegations when contacted by New Vision Online on Sunday at Yumbe Central Police Station. He presented a contrasting narrative.

"It's Komoro's supporters who have been trailing us for over a month now, and this particular incident is the fourth time that Komoro's supporters have attacked my supporters," Onzima detailed previous alleged incidents, including the demolition of a shade he built for supporters in Midigo town council, the destruction of his office there with items looted, and an attack on his Achilaka office on January 8, where vice-chairperson Safi Aro was beaten.

"On January 8, the supporters of Komoro went to attack my office in Achilaka and beat my vice-chairperson Safi Aro and looted the office materials. This was reported to the Police, but nothing has been done. Yesterday's incident is the fourth time Komoro's supporters have attacked my team," Onzima said. 

Independent candidate Karim Musa alias Komoro. (Credit: Adam Gule)

He claimed the Saturday violence stemmed from Komoro's supporters manning a roadblock against his team conducting constituency mop-up campaigns, forcing his supporters to "jump down trying to remove the road blocks, but instead they were assaulted and beaten by the alleged supporters of Komoro who were having sticks, panga and stones." 

According to Onzima the reported injuries were a result of defensive actions by his team.

He also disputed Komoro's campaign location.

"As per Karim Musa's campaign programme, he was supposed to be in Midigo town council, I think according to programme, he was to finish the campaigns in Midigo town council on Sunday. I didn't expect him to be in Tuliki because that was not supposed to be where he was to be campaigning."

Onzima said 26 of his supporters were injured, with 15 in critical condition at Kei Health Centre III.

Northwest Nile region Police Spokesperson Collins Asea said, "The Police responded swiftly, visited the scene of crime, recorded statements from witnesses and opened a case of assault at Yumbe central police station under the reference number Yumbe SD REF.70/10/01/2026." 

Asea said they arrested Andruga Swadick aka Angolibo, who is the LC1 chairperson of Abiriirua village in Arilo sub-county, to assist with investigations. 

He identified the victims as Abdul Hamid Nuru, Chandiga Adinan, Taban Yasin, Manager Jawad, and Yope Saidi, but denied claims of additional unreported injuries.

"If at all there were others injured, they haven't been reported to the Police," Asea said, adding: "I strongly urge all political parties and their supporters to refrain from inciting violence and observe the set electoral commission guidelines."

Yumbe District returning officer Benson Obeti condemned the violence as the second such incident during the campaign period, commending security forces for their swift response and calling for justice.

He warned candidates to "desist from such acts and always abide by the guidelines already given to them."

Both candidates also publicly denounced violence. 

"I have been preaching peace, and I will continue preaching peace. Politics of do or die is not for me," Komoro sai,d adding that "election is not a game of do or die, it's a way of choosing leaders democratically." He urged supporters to use diplomacy rather than violence. 

Similarly, Onzima called the incident "barbaric" and exposed "levels of uncivilisation in the society," encouraging voters to "abstain from such acts and see themselves as one people who shall need each other after the elections."