There was mayhem and pandemonium in Apaa on Tuesday as government surveyors from Adjumani district hurriedly planted markstones declaring a new borderline between Amuru and Adjumani districts.
Some of the victims of the Monday shooting of unarmed civilians by the police and the army in Apaa in the lead up to the demarcation, have had their limbs amputated following severe bullet injuries.
Over 21 people are now confirmed to have sustained serious injuries when the army and police fired live bullets at protesters who were demonstrating against forceful eviction from their land to pave way for the demarcation.
Majority of those injured are from Apaa and Pabbo Sub Counties in Amuru district.
The area Member of Parliament Mr Gilbert Olanya who was rushing to the rescue of his constituents was also manhandled and unjustly arrested at Parabongo trading centre and remains in Police custody in Masindi.
Having dispersed local residents, the border was subsequently marked and opened under the watchful eye of the Police and UPDF.
The residents accuse Third deputy Prime Minister and MP for Adjumani, Hon. Gen. Moses Ali, for conspiring to offer the area to a one Bruce Martin, a foreign investor, who wants to develop the land as a private game ranch and hunting area.
“We all know that our boundary with Adjumani is at Joka river not here at Apaa junction as the government, army and police want us to believe, putting the markstones does not mean it is over, we shall die here,” a source who spoke on condition of anonymity told Acholi Times.
The surveyors, mostly technical staff from Adjumani district on Tuesday operated very quickly to put up the markstones as many locals were still in the bushes hiding with many others tending to their wounded.
The residents condemned the actions of the police and UPDF which they said was indiscriminate and targeted innocent unarmed women, men and children when they fired live bullets and tear gas.
“The tanker was shooting at us as if we were rebels, some of our wounded are still in the bushes, it is unacceptable that Uganda’s army and police can shoot at her citizens like this,” an elderly lady who didn’t want to be identified told Acholi Times.
Some of the wounded that Acholi Times visited in hospital included: Opiyo Felix, 26 years of age and Okumu Jacob 25, who both claim their hands were shot by Police tanker and all have had their them amputated in Lacor hospital.
Other wounded include Komakech David,52 ,who complained of a bullet bruise on his skull, Olweny Bazil 29 who was beaten into a coma and remains unconscious, Anek Santa 43 who has a bullet wound in her leg.
A woman who preferred anonymity told Acholi Times that she saw three people being shot dead at Apaa trading centre, two of whom were elderly and one was a child.
“Yes people were killed in the scuffle but the security forces were quickly carrying away the dead bodies and transporting them to Adjumani headquarters,” she lamented.
When contacted, the deputy Director of Operation for the police Mr John Nuwagira denied the use of live bullets and said that they had only used rubber bullets and tears gas.
“Those whose hands have been amputated tried catching teargas tins with their hands when it was being launched and it ended up exploding in their hands injuring them,” he said.
“The border demarcation is just for administrative purposes. I call upon the people of Apaa to open their shops because nobody is going to evict them,” he added.
The Kilak County MP, Hon. Gilbert Olanya who was arrested on Monday when heading to Pabbo was still being detained at Masindi central Police station and has been charged with inciting violence under file reference number SD/18/07/09/2015.
In 2012 the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) sent armed Rangers with the backing of police and the army to forcefully evict the residents of Apaa.
People were shot at, beaten up, their livestock raided, their houses burnt and their crops set on fire. Some young men were shot dead in the operation and young girls alleged that they were raped.
Twenty five men were arrested, beaten severely, taken to Adjumani where they were charged with offenses ranging from criminal trespass, being idle and disorderly to threatening violence.
Primary schools were destroyed and closed down, the pupils and teachers sent away and the school desks were used as firewood by the army and police.
This was repeated in April 2015 when the army was deployed to beat up residents once more leading to a naked protest by elderly women.
After the incident where mothers in Apaa exposed themselves naked before a government delegation in protest, government made a commitment that a border meeting would be convened to listen to the concerns of the residents and the leaders, this has never materialised.
5 Comments
Omyero pe wuket kom nying ki kome. Awene ma dano gube ywe jone?
The stones cannot mark border line. They did it, but we do not recognize it.
En muni ni myero gumedde kabedo i Acoli pingo? Teke muno ki Yini mo matye kaweko kineko lutedero i lok kom ngom myero ada kiwek gubed i Acoli? Ludito wa lwak Acoli ducu gucwal dwangi ni pe wamitogi i Acoli ka tekke bedogi kenyo tye ka oyo remo.
Acholi,amito cwalo kwena me kumu na bot Lodito,Megiwa,Omego ki Lemego ma gurwenyo kwo pa Lotino ki jo ma otegi ma nyingi pud pi Lyet pa Too pe twero wace bot Wilobo.
Wabedo ki tek Cwiny,Ladit Pabbo mo Owaca ni”LAND IS BLOOD,AND BLOOD IS LIFE” The mark Stone they have forcefully erected at Apaa Junction has a Foundation History,let us protect the Victims who are the living Foundation of Rebelion, the Apaa sons and Women have proved that they can face the TANKS,Mambas,LIFE BULLETS FROM POLICE AND UPDF.
Fellow Ugandans,it is just a matter of time that GOD will tell President Yoweri Museveni that let the Acholi be FREE.
OUR LAND IN APAA, we Shall humbly asked Mr Martin Bruce and Allies to Remove their Building KWA ROO MUZURI,that is if they shall still be alive.
Please I don’t have much to Say let us console Ourselves over the 7thSeptember,2015 Tragedy in Amuru District.REMAIN STRONG and UNITED.
JOK JOK KA MALO.(An Wod Boya-i Ulaya)
Abiro owaconi: “Northern ug.is going to be industrial area” ma lube ki keto mac I karuma (hydroelectricity). Man tito dok gonyo tyen nek mapol I Acoli. Wa Daktari kombedi gi tye ka bito anyira/mon pe me nywal, ki tucu gi woko ki yat luu/ ki minigi yat amwonya me juku nywal etc
Lok ma dit tye calo man: Acoli myero gu med nywal oyotoyot, ka twere laco acel myero obed ki mon abic nyo makato, man weko wel wa mede ci waromo bedo ki teko/twero/kero me juko Abiro ki Lurok me kwanyo lobo/ngom wa. Ka pe kumeno ci I nge mwaka apar, apar wiye abic nongo watum woko. Lobo wa doko ka dwar pa muni. muni tye ki yub ni Afrika myero obed bongo dano macol. Abiro muni otyeko bwolo ne atikatika me neko dano wek lobo odong botgi I nying me ‘development/ investors etc. Acwalo cwer cwiny madit pi jo wa ma kinego gi/ kiwano gi. Jok Jok ka malo.