Local Chief Blocks Subjects from visiting ‘‘Kony’s Mystic Hills’’

A local chief in Gulu district has barred his subjects from visiting Awere hills in Odek Sub County in Gulu district.

The leader of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), Joseph Kony, it is widely believed among locals started his rebellion against the Ugandan government by visiting the hills reportedly to get mystic powers.

Rwot Jimmy Ocan Luwala, the clan chief of Puranga has asked his subjects not to visit the ‘’mystic hills’’ on grounds that they could, like Kony, end up launching a rebellion against the government.

More than two decades ago, Kony used the same hills to launch his war against the Ugandan government. The brutal war led to the displacement of about two million people from their homes into internally displaced peoples camps (IDPs).

Awere Hills is located about 60km south-east of Gulu town along the Gulu-Moroto Road.

Rwot Luwala said on Wednesday that he fears that those who frequent the area could become possessed with spirits and launch a fresh rebellion leading to displacement of people from their homes.

The chief said he cannot out the possibility that the hills could still be having ‘‘some magic power to influence behaviors.’’

He warned that anyone goes without the knowledge of the clan chief will ‘‘suffer the consequences.’’

Luwala warned that unless the place undergoes ritual cleansing, it will never be safe for anyone who visit.

The Puranga clan leader also demanded the Sub County authorities should stop tourists from visiting the area.

Douglas Peter Okello, the Gulu District Council Speaker asked the youth to heed the chief’s advice.

According Okello, during the war, dozens of lives were lost and such things should not reoccur.

Kony reportedly received instructions to start the war while atop a rock on the hill. It is said he frequently visited the area when there was still an active war in northern Uganda    allegedly to ‘‘speak to his spirits on how to defeat the government forces.’’

Kony who hails from Odek village just a short distance from the Awere Hills, also reportedly used the same place to treat his injured fighters using water and herbs from the hill.

But religious leaders say the hills are not dangerous.  On Wednesday, Anglican Bishop Diocese of Northern Uganda Rt Rev Johnson Gakumba baptized four children atop the hill.

Quoting from the Bible, Bishop Gakumba said the ‘‘rock is God’s creation and He has given full authority for human beings to benefit from it.’’

Recently, George Aligech Lapir, a resident of the area said that no one believed that the hills had supernatural powers until Kony used it to launch his rebellion in 1987.

Apart from the eastern side of the hill having some ‘‘lion foot marks,’’ there is nothing peculiar about the 100 tall rocks, says Lapir.

The top of the hills was left unattended throughout the two-decade long war in northern Uganda until late 2009 when it became clear that Kony would not come back to the area to consult his supposed spirits.