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Uiraponga Sees Cautious Comeback After Forced Exodus

Public works, local hiring and cultural events drive modest returns as many residents stay away because of lasting trauma

Overview

  • In July 2025 the district of Uiraponga emptied after threats and forced expulsions by criminal factions, prompting a mass, rapid departure of families.
  • Police arrested 13 people in 2025 linked to the forced displacements, including a man alleged to be one of the masterminds who was captured in São Paulo.
  • Security reinforcements have kept the district free of recorded homicides for one year, creating the conditions for some families to return.
  • The municipal and state governments have committed more than R$20 million to paving, an 'areninha' and other works that prioritize hiring local residents.
  • Daily life is returning slowly with two small markets, a bar reopening and the Festival Movimenta in July 2026, but many former residents split time between towns or refuse to return because of psychological trauma.