Amagoro residents demand roadblock back to tame crime

 Amagoro residents have demanded the immediate reinstatement of Ikapolok roadblock to tame insecurity.

They said that the removal of the roadblock has escalated theft and trafficking of contraband goods along the busy highway linking Kenya and Uganda.

"We are urging Amagoro location chief Joel Omachar to raise this matter with deputy county commissioner Solomon Kitai during the sub-county security meeting to reconsider reinstating the road block,” said Kennedy Epalat, a member of the Amagoro Neighbourhood Welfare Association.

The roadblock was removed in November last year in unclear circumstances. Speaking on behalf of the youth, Frank Wangula admitted that security had deteriorated in Amagoro to the extent that motorbikes were during daytime by highway robbers since removal of roadblock.

The residents spoke during a meeting at Amagoro Catholic Church grounds on Tuesday.

Residents and members of the business community in Amagoro town last week threatened to take to the streets over plans by Teso North subcounty police to close the Amagoro police patrol base.

The residents had argued that closure of the patrol base would compromise security because it served people from as far as four kilometres away.