Government orders investigation into people ferrying non-inhabitants to Apaa
According to the minister, these non-habitants are the ones engaging in the depletion of vegetation cover through massive commercial charcoal businesses.
By Christopher Nyeko
Gulu: The State Minister for Northern Uganda, Grace Kwiyucwiny, has revealed that the government has directed relevant authorities to launch an investigation on the intention of some individuals who are reportedly ferrying locals from central Uganda who are non-inhabitants of Apaa land and placing them to settle in the contested Apaa land, especially Zoka Forest Reserve.
Minister Kwiyocwiny revealed this development recently while addressing the media about the success of the implementation of presidential executive order number 03 of 2023.
The move to investigate the people ferrying the locals from central Uganda to Apaa emerged following the recent report by UPDF, which established that out of 80,000 people occupying Apaa, 80 percent are neither Acholi nor Madi; however, Madai and Acholi were found to be only 20 percent, respectively.
The minister says the government is now concerned about why some individuals are ferrying local people from central districts of Uganda, such as Luweero, Mityana, Bugweri, Kyankwanzi, Mukono, Iganga, and Tororo, among others, and bringing them to Apaa, the land of tension.
According to the minister, these non-habitants are the ones engaging in the depletion of vegetation cover through massive commercial charcoal businesses.
Last week, a number of people who were said to have been staying in Apaa illegally, and the majority were those who were ferried from central Uganda, were expelled by the 4th Infantry Division commander, who ordered them to vacate Apaa within the shortest time possible.
The order came following the recent attack tagged to unknown assailants, who killed six people and injured 11 others.
Following the ultimatum, the affected people thronged the office of the prime minister in Gulu city, seeking transport means to help them go back to their respective districts, but their efforts were in vain because the official at OPM replied to them that the government would not give them any aid as there had been an order to vacate the land earlier this year.
However, in her statement, the minister revealed that these affected people were later transported back to their respective districts on a UPDF truck provided by the UPDF 4th Infantry Division commander.
This affected population consisted of women, men, and children who were seen loitering in Gulu City with their baggage on their heads.
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