The Member of Parliament (MP) for Kilak North Constituency in Amuru district, Anthony Akol, has threatened to call upon the gods to punish those selling land to commercial charcoal dealers to cut down trees for charchoal.
Addressing the residents of Aporwegi in Amuru Sub County recently, Akol urged locals not to sell the trees on their land for charcoal burning because the gods live on trees.
“In Acholi we used to respect big trees. These big trees are not being spared and yet they have divine powers,” Akol said.
The legislator warned that he will seek the intervention of his forefathers so that those who are engaged in sale of land to commercial charcoal dealers are punished.
“We ask our gods to punish those who are selling land. If our forefathers had sold these forest how would we be now? ” he wondered.
The Amuru district LCV Chairperson, Michael Lakony said Kilak hills which used to be treated as a holy ground have not been spared by the commercial charcoal dealers.
According to Lakony, the current erratic rainfall being experienced in the area could be as a result of the destruction of trees which sits at the gods’ dwelling place.
Lamogi, the third largest clan in Acholi treats Kilak hills as sacred place where the gods live.
The clan chief of Pabbo, Rwot Jakeyo Acaye II, has previously warned against the cutting of trees on Kilak hill saying any one who does so will annoy the gods.
National Forestry Authority (NFA) statistics estimates that close to 30 percent of the 21, 000 square kilometers of forest has been destroyed in Amuru in the last three years.
Cutting down forests is blamed for climate change.
More than 1,600 commercial charcoal dealers were recently forced out of Amuru by the district officials in an effort to protect the natural vegetation cover. But this has not stopped the profitable and bustling charcoal trade from thriving.
The need for fuel to cook in Acholi and in the country is driving up demand for charcoal leading to the cutting cutting down of whole forests in Amuru and other districts in Acholi.
1 Comment
Hon.Akol,expose those Big shorts and the coordinators on the ground and cotinue to capaign for what the Amuru people wants with supports from Hon Lakony and Councillors,comrades in Diasporas then table the motion in Parliament so that the intimidation and corruption from above will be crippled.
The Youth of Amuru should continue to protect Trees and Land without fear against the enemy of destruction of our the environment species