Several people sustained injuries in Yumbe Town Council in West Nile sub-region after clashes erupted over disagreements surrounding the sale of pork in the largely Muslim community.
Reports indicate that tensions flared when a dispute between pork vendors and some residents escalated into violence, resulting in running battles and damaged property.
The unrest followed the circulation of a widely-shared video on social media in which Sheikh Kasim Abdallah, Imam of Munir Mosque, delivered a fiery sermon urging Muslims to take action against pork vendors.
In the clip, he told followers; “should you see any pork, destroy it. If the police ask, say I sent you. Pork is dirty meat when you take it to the lab, worms will come out of it,” he said in a video clip.
During the scaffle, pork stalls were overturned, shops vandalized, and stones hurled, leaving several individuals with injuries.
Local authorities say the situation worsened after reports emerged accusing a prominent cleric of inciting the community to block the sale of pork, allegedly urging residents to oppose what he described as an infringement on Muslim cultural values.
“We had disagreements about pork selling in certain areas, but what happened was unfortunate. Violence is not the solution,” a local leader said, urging calm and coexistence.
Security forces have since been deployed to restore order as investigations into the cause of the clashes continue.
Police are also probing allegations against the cleric, though religious leaders in the area have called for restraint and dialogue rather than blame.
Meanwhile, traders have appealed to the authorities for protection, arguing that pork sale is legal and banning it would undermine their livelihoods.
