The inspector general of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura has rushed to Arua after gunfire rocked Ediofe Cathedral under the Diocese of Arua since yesterday.
Trouble began when angry Christians attempted a raid on the home of Rt. Rev. Sabino Ocan Odoki, the Bishop of Arua Diocese accusing him of killing the late Bishop Fredrick Drandua who recently passed away due to cancer.
Witnesses indicate that chaos erupted when armed police moved in to arrest a mob which was guarding the late Bishop’s grave, prompting their partners to ring church bells that in turn attracted more people to the scene.
The furious residents would later move in and smash the window panes of the Parish block, burning documents and destroying the temporary prayer structure (church) since the cathedral is still under renovation.
These still attempted to raid the Bishop's house, but his military and police guards were also forced to open fire leading to running battles until this morning, when more officers from the police and army were deployed at the cathedral to contain the situation.
However, a different group of Christians armed with placards calling for the removal of Bishop of Odoki now withdrew from the Cathedral and attempted to march to Arua Central Police Station to demand the unconditional release of their colleagues in police custody but were blocked by the army and police.
The Ediofe parish priest Monsigor Casto Adetmi, has called for dialogue with the warring parties to address their concerns.
This chaos comes barely a week after Haji Ibrahim Saiga, the West Nile Region Police Commander wrote a letter to the Inspector General of Police, claiming there is need for the Vatican and Catholic church in Uganda to move Bishop Odoki.
