PARLIAMENT – The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has directed the Prime Minister to explain to Parliament steps being taken to address the conflict.
In her ruling, the speaker said the Prime minister should appear in Parliament on Thursday over the issue.
She made the ruling during the 10th sitting of the third session of the third meeting of the 10th Parliament on Wednesday following complaints from the Acholi MPs regard the prolonged land conflicts in Apaa land being contested for by communities from Acholi and Madi.
Acholi MPs decried the prolonged land conflicts in Apaa land being contested for by communities from Acholi and Madi.
The said that apart from parliament there is nobody who cares about the problem.
While raising the matter, Nwoya woman MP, Lilly Adong informed the Members that as representatives from Acholi region, they are requesting for the boundary to be re-opened.
“We have two parishes in Amuru and government should help find a lasting solution to the problem because it appears there is an invisible hand in this issue,” Adong said.
She said as the vice of Acholi Parliamentary Forum, they want nothing but dialogue to resolve the matter once and for all. adding that parliament had made a resolution and even the President visited the area and actually halted any evictions but his directive is not being followed.
“It’s painful that our people are being denied food, their shelter burnt down, and unable to access medical services. We have nowhere to run apart from parliament,” she noted.
MP Nwoya county, Simon Oyet that they are happy with the temporary deployment but want their people to live in peace.
MP Kilak south, Gilbert Olanya also explained that there were no camps but now the UPDF is forcing people to live there .adding that some NGO’s wanted to supply the people with food but they are being denied access to the area.
The leader of Opposition in parliament, Betty Aol Ochan added that the plight of the people of Apaa is being ignored because up to date, there has been no response.
The legislators accused Deputy Prime minister and Leader of Government Business, Gen. Moses Ali for being behind the conflict and using the army to intimidate people of Apaa.
However, Jesca Ababiku woman MP, Ajumani, who was also mentioned in the sage defended herself and Gen. Ali told the Members to speak with evidence instead of pointing fingers.
Kadaga adjourned the sitting to Thursday, saying that the issue is serious and can’t be debated with the responses from the persons in charge of the dockets mentioned.
