Lira, Uganda – Maama Shopping Center in Lira City is facing serious allegations of torturing a civil servant who visited the supermarket to purchase goods.
Judith Abonyo, a Community Development Officer for Agali Sub County in Lira District, reported that on Sunday, January 19, 2025, around 3 PM, she made a payment for her items to a female cashier who later denied receiving the payment.

During a brief verbal exchange, Abonyo was forcibly taken to the supermarket’s office and assaulted.
CCTV footage later confirmed that she had indeed paid for the goods.
Abonyo reported the assault to Lira Central Police Station under SD Reference 49/20/01/2025.

By press time, efforts to obtain comments from North Kyoga Region Police Spokesperson, SP Jimmy Patrick Okema, were futile as he is currently on leave.
The incident has sparked widespread criticism of Maama Shopping Center, with many questioning the treatment of Abonyo, who is known in the community and unlikely to have committed theft.

Legal experts have also expressed interest in the case, suggesting that the supermarket could face legal consequences for their actions.

Written by

Francis Oyet

Oyet Francis Opwonya, known commonly as Francis L’Oyet is a Ugandan South Sudanese investigative journalist and software engineer. Oyet is the founder and CEO of Oyet Broadcasting Services (OBS Network), an innovation hub and headquarters of The Northern Press in Uganda and The Malakal Press, located in Malakal City, Upper Nile State in the Greater Upper Nile region of South Sudan