Ediofe Cathedral area under lock as security clashes with mob

CAPTION: Security forces camp at Ediofe Cathedral. Photos/ Nicholas Oneal

The Ediofe Cathedral area has been sealed off as clashes between security forces comprising the Police and the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces( UPDF) and rowdy locals continue.
 
The melee started at 12:30am when the Police arrested a group of people who since the burial of the late Bishop Emeritus Frederick Drandua have pitched camp at the grave, claiming that the Arua Diocese Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki had hired thugs to excavate the grave in order to steal the gold rings and rosary of the deceased.
 

 
The Police say among the group was an eight-year-old boy who was told to go home. It was later discovered that instead of leaving, the boy began ringing the cathedral bell alerting other people to come to the Cathedra.l
 
According to Josephine Angucia, the West Nile Police spokesperson, it appears there had been a prior plan orchestrated by people opposed to Bishop Odoki that if that group of people camped at the grave were arrested, they should ring the bell and they would use the incident as a trigger for attacking the bishop's residence.
 
She said the surging crowd destroyed a temporary structure where people have been praying as the main cathedral is under a major renovation.
 

 
They proceeded to vandalise the Ediofe Cathedral parish fathers' house, burning all the chairs, bibles, clerical robes, television and other property whose value is yet to be assessed.
 
The priests at the fathers' house, including the parish priest Monsignor Kasto Adeti, who was Drandua's deputy during his two decades episcopate only survive lynching by dashing to the bishops' palace that had a small contingent of Police guarding the gate.
 

 
When the District police commander, Jonathan Musinguzi, arrived with reinforcement, it was difficult to convince the vandals to back off.
 
That led to unleashing of teargas and eventually bullets wising through the air as the rowdy crowd responded with arrows, stones and machetes.
 
The shooting continued till morning, but as it appeared that the attackers had left the scene, a bigger crowd appeared at the scene prompting more shooting.

 
By 7:30am, police and military personnel had sealed off all access routes to the cathedral area and thoroughly screened people going for genuine business while most shops had remained closed for fear of looting.