Five Bakumbari victims finally laid to rest

The bodies of five victims from Bakumbari village in Northern who were killed during a confrontation with the "I don't care" gangsters were formally handed over to their families on Sunday.

The repatriation of the five deceased victims has been made possible by the Popondetta District and Oro Provincial Government.

Speaking during the handover of the bodies to family members at Bakumbari village, Northern Governor Gary Juffa said, "We have joined our family members at Bakumbari village to show our respects, and grieve with them, reflecting on their lives as we lay them to rest at their home."

Juffa said, "Let this incident be a lesson to us, and we move into a new chapter in life knowing that such should not happen in the future as we embrace peace and harmony in our villages and communities."

Adding on, Juffa thanked the politicians of the province, Minister for Works and Highways Peter Tsiamalili Jnr, the churches and people of Northern Province at large for assisting the people of Bakumbari in cash or kind when they became victims of 'I don't care' gangsters in February this year.

He said your kind gesture gave hope to the people of Bakumbari. Juffa also stated that police manpower has been boosted in the province, in which a successful operation has been conducted with local police, and 27 suspects involved in the Bakumbari saga has been arrested and charged, while a handful are still at large.

Juffa assured the family members of the five deceased victims at Bakumbari that police will continue with their operations to ensure the remaining gangsters on the run face the full blent of the law.

In the meantime, the five deceased victims have been officially handed over to the family members at Bakumbari village by Northern Governor Gary Juffa, Minister for Works and Highways Peter Tsiamalili Jnr, Popondetta District representatives, police, and Anglican Church members.