By Ojok James Onono
The cost of ignoring Aguu is no longer limited to stolen phones or fear on the streets. It includes the loss of lives, threats to livelihoods and the possible erosion of Gulu City’s future.
In 2017, during a meeting at State House, Entebbe, convened to resolve the then-contentious Lakang land matters in Amuru District, I witnessed President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni reflect on the transformative impact of Gulu University. I attended the meeting in my capacity as a journalist with Mega FM.
Among the delegates was Professor Jack Nyeko Pen-Mogi, the university’s founding Vice-Chancellor. President Museveni expressed satisfaction with the rapid development taking place around Laroo and Gulu, partly driven by the establishment of the university. In his characteristic jovial manner, he joked that he needed to buy land and invest in hostel construction because student accommodation had become a lucrative business.
Professor Pen-Mogi used the opportunity to explain the university’s growing student population and its contribution to the local economy. Nearly a decade later, that vision remains relevant. However, the growing insecurity associated with street gangs commonly known as Aguu threatens the very educational economy that Gulu University has helped build.
Under the leadership of Professor George Ladaah Openjuru, Gulu University continues to grow despite longstanding institutional challenges, including the absence of a seed grant since its inception to support the institution’s infrastructure development.
The university admitted approximately 7,000 students for the 2026 academic year, creating significant opportunities for businesses across Gulu City. Students need accommodation, food, transport, internet access, healthcare and other essential services. Consequently, markets expand, private hostels flourish, landlords earn rental income, and restaurants, shops and entertainment establishments attract customers. The university’s presence supports livelihoods far beyond its campus.
This is the bigger picture our leaders must recognise: universities are not merely centres of teaching and research. They are powerful engines of urban development.
Unfortunately, insecurity is threatening these gains. Gulu City’s street-gang problem has become a major concern for residents, students and business operators. Reports of phone theft, violent robberies and sexual violence have heightened fears, particularly among people travelling at night.
The university community has also suffered painful losses.
In May 2026, university staff member Nyeko Chris, who worked in the Health Unit, was reportedly killed in a brutal incident. More recently, a female Biosystems Engineering student reportedly survived a violent attack while returning to her hostel in the early hours of the morning after travelling from Kampala. According to the account, the attackers took her bag after she mentioned that it contained Shs3 million, leaving her seriously injured.
On October 10, 2026, Ngire John Bosco, a second-year student in the Faculty of Education, reportedly died after being struck on the head with a large stone in an attack allegedly linked to the same gang problem.
These incidents demand urgent attention and thorough police investigations. Behind every reported attack is a human life, a grieving family or a student whose future is at risk. No parent should fear that a child sent to university might never return home.
How many more tragedies must occur before a decisive response is implemented?
One concern that deserves urgent examination is the reported shortage of vehicles and other logistical resources available to security teams conducting night patrols in Gulu City. If patrol teams lack reliable vehicles, their ability to respond quickly to emergencies, monitor vulnerable areas and deter criminal activity is compromised.
The Uganda Police Force, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the relevant security leadership should assess Gulu’s operational needs and provide adequate support.
The economic consequences of insecurity extend far beyond individual victims. If students feel unsafe, parents may hesitate to send their children to Gulu. Businesses may close earlier, hostel owners may lose tenants, and investors may reconsider their plans.
Gulu has demonstrated considerable potential to attract visitors through education, sports, entertainment and cultural events. The city was expected to host Congolese music star Koffi Olomide on Independence Day this year, although the proposed event faced health-related concerns. Motor sports activities have also attracted crowds from different parts of Uganda for two days.
With the Gulu Marathon approaching, the city has further opportunities to promote tourism, stimulate business and create employment. But this potential cannot be fully realised if residents and visitors fear moving around at night.
Gulu can learn from university cities such as Groningen in the Netherlands, where higher education is closely linked to the city’s identity and development. The lesson is not to copy another country’s security practices blindly, but to recognise the importance of protecting students and creating a safe environment for businesses and residents.
I appeal to all security chiefs in Uganda to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves. President Museveni’s remarks at State House in 2017 reflected an understanding of the transformative power of a university. Nearly a decade later, that vision must be protected through practical investment in public safety.
Let us protect Gulu’s educational economy.
The writer is a university spokesperson and communication expert.