Religious leaders within Acholi Sub-region have called on the government to remove with immediate effect its armed forces from Apaa Parish in Pabbo sub-county Amuru district that borders Adjumani district.
The leaders cited the armed men that comprised of Uganda People’s defense Forces (UPDF) and Police who were deployed in the area on Sunday had destabilized peace and caused grave injuries to locals as government reopened boundary between Adjumani and Amuru districts.
Last weekend, hundreds of security personnel were deployed in Apaa Parish, the contentious 40 sq Kilometer land that is being claimed by Amuru and Adjumani while Uganda Wild Life Authority also claims it’s a game reserve.
Five people were shot at by the armed men following protests by locals against the deployment of the security personnel on Monday amidst government move to erect mark stones to demarcate boundaries between the two districts.
In a meeting convened by religious leaders under the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ALPI) in Apaa trading center on Wednesday, the leaders unanimously agreed that the current exercise to demarcate Amuru-Adjumani boundary be stopped and armed forces be removed to guarantee peace.
Sheikh Musa Khelil, the Acholi Muslim Khadi also the Chairperson ALPI while addressing Apaa residents said as religious leaders they oppose the life threatening acts of the Armed forces against innocent civilians occupying Apaa land.
“We are not happy with any aggression carried by the armed men that has inflicted injuries on our people. We want the government to understand that this is an act of oppression and unfairness against our vulnerable people,” says Sheikh Khelil.
He noted that despite the government’s allegations of wrangles between Acholi and Madi people, the relationship between the two tribes has been stable within the boundary settings mapped during the colonial era.
“We want the soldiers deployed in this area to be removed with immediate effect so that locals regain peace and carry on with their activities.
Retired Northern Uganda Diocese Bishop, Rev Bishop Nelson Onono Onweng said tranquility in Apaa parish can only be restored if government moves out the armed forces who intimidated residents in the area.
“As we look forward to other measures of helping our people, our humble appeal is that armed men be withdrawn with immediate effect, we also demand that the Kilak MP Gilbert Olanya and other locals arrested be released unconditionally,” he said.
He added that they also intend to send their request through the NRM Deputy Secretary General Richard Todwong to level a fertile ground for the religious leaders to meet President Yoweri Museveni to intervene in the matter.
Major Gen Julius Oketta, Director emergency coordination and operations in the office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in the same meeting echoed that despite locals in Amuru district blaming him for orchestrating plans for their eviction from the contentious land, leadership failure by Acholi leaders was to blame.
“We need to understand that our leaders in the district are not having a common ground on solving contentious matters, they are all divided on their opinions and this is a big blow for us to solve issues that arise in our area,” says Maj Gen Oketta.
He noted that the demarcation exercise wasn’t a threat that the people occupying it will be evicted adding that, “from what I know and the President briefed me of, the people in the area will not be chased, they will stay wherever they used to be with comfort because the demarcation is just an administrative issue,”
Following a Tuesday meeting held by the religious leaders within Gulu Town, they dissolved eight key points that the government must consider in the case of the Apaa boundary demarcation.
Amongst some of the resolutions, the leaders resolved that erection of mark stones in the area must stop with immediate effect and Army and police men be removed while thorough investigations of alleged death, destruction of properties and injuries are carried out.
The demarcation exercise was however done.
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The gorverment must also compensate the victims who were killed or injured with hospital costs.