The Aringa Kingdom has condemned the violence that erupted in Yumbe Town Council on Tuesday, calling for restraint and immediate dialogue among religious groups to restore peace and order.
The unrest followed a viral TikTok video showing a Sheikh in one of the mosques condemning the sale of pork in the predominantly Muslim community.
The video sparked anger and protests across parts of Yumbe Town. Rumors of the Sheikh’s planned arrest triggered mass mobilization by boda boda riders, resulting in gunfire, multiple injuries, and widespread panic.
In a press release dated November 4, 2025, the Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Lemeriga Fadhil Kujo, expressed deep concern over what he described as “acts of violence, mayhem, and destruction to people’s lives, property, and peace” in Yumbe District.
“Aringa Kingdom is a heterogeneous community comprising the indigenous, fellow West Nilers, other Ugandans, and people of many descent,” Kujo said.
“The violence witnessed today is foreign to Aringa Kingdom.”
He highlighted Yumbe District’s long-standing religious plurality, home to institutions including the Lodonga Basilica, the Anglican headquarters at Eleke, and the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council offices.
Kujo appealed to the Interreligious Council of Uganda to convene urgent dialogue between Muslims and Christians and urged security forces to exercise restraint.
“We call upon the armed forces to handle civilians with restraint as the situation might escalate beyond control,” he added.
“I wish a quick recovery to the injured and urge Muslims to stop ransacking properties belonging to Christians, as this will cause irreparable relational damage among the Aringa people.”
Meanwhile, North West Nile Region Police PRO, Superintendent of Police Collins Asea, confirmed the incidents, stating, “It is true. More details will follow soon.”
Shops remain closed, and normal business activities have yet to resume as authorities work to restore calm.