Kilak County Member of Parliament, Gilbert Olanya has claimed the UPDF is back in Apar, an area whose ownership is contested by Amuru and Gulu districts.
Olanya told Acholi Times today that UPDF was deployed in the area during the elections and their continued presence is scaring residents.
“They were sent there before elections and they are now giving serious threats to the local community. The local people are living in total fear because the government has again begun threatening them over their land,” said Olanya who did not elaborate on the nature of threat the UPDF poses to locals.
Olanya threatened to mobilise locals and Acholi leaders for against UPDF presence in the area.
“I am mobilizing local leaders from all over Acholi region to come and help the people of Amuru. I am also mobilizing the cultural and religious leaders from all over Acholi to give a helping hand because the land in Apar is for all Acholi people,” Olanya said.
The army has however denied that there are UPDF soldiers in Apar.
“We do not have any UPDF in Apar but only LDUs who are part of the Alfa Battalion in Pabbo trading centre,” said Lt Ahmad Hassan Kato, the acting 4th Division UPDF spokesperson.
The UPDF spokesman said the local community should report to police if they are being threatened as alleged by Olanya.
Apar, a contested piece of land that straddles both Amuru and Adjumani districts has been at the centre of a storm between locals in Amuru, their counterparts in Adjumani district and the central government.
Last year the government forcefully demarcated the land leading to a scuffle that left five people with injuries including some who lost their limbs.
Shortly after the demarcating of the border, unknown people vandalized the markstones.
2 Comments
These are all distractions by Museveni to keep the region away from challenging the illegitimate election victory. Similar strategies are being employed in Kapchorwa and Kasese where claims of rebel activities are being peddled by the same government. I think the northern regional leaders should not lose focus of the big picture, and that is, resisting the illegitimate government of the murderous Museveni.
Sloppy reporting if this concerns the dispute on the land straddling Amuru and Adjumani Districts. Apaa does not border Gulu District.