Moses Elungat, a resident of Ongongonja Sub County has asked government to come to their rescue by providing them with drugs, mosquito nets and education services for their children since the Karamojong who claim the contested land have evicted them.
More than 300 residents
from villages bordering the contested Katakwi-Napak boundary have been
displaced from their homes.
The affected residents are from Oeselem and Okameta
villages in Katakwi district. The affected residents have now taken refuge at Ongongoja sub county headquarters in Katakwi
District.
Christine Aguti, one of affected residents, says they
were forced out of their homes by Karamojongs. According to Aguti, they even
lack food to feed their families since they can’t access their crop gardens.
Moses Elungat, a
resident of Ongongonja Sub County has asked government to come to their rescue
by providing them with drugs, mosquito nets and education services for their
children since the Karamojong who claim the contested land have evicted them.
Elungat and his colleagues fault the Katakwi District
chairperson, Walter Elakas for not responding to their phone calls whenever the
Karamojong attack them.
Christine Amoding, another displaced resident, says they will
not return to the disputed land until government provides them sufficient
security.
“We have suffered and whenever Karamojongs come to the
border they beat us, claiming that the land is theirs,” she explained.
Augustine Iyeset, the vice chairperson Katakwi district
who also double as the area LC V councilor wonder how the affected people were
displaced with the presence of Local Defense Unit-LDU personnel in the area.
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William Omeke, the Ongongonja
Sub County LC III chairperson has called for immediate response from district
authorities.
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The Katakwi Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Vincent
Enomu, says he has already communicated to the Army to intervene in the matter
and allow the displaced people to return to their homes.
Walter Elakas Okiring, the LC 5 Chairperson Katakwi, says he
won’t allow such displacements to occur in his district.
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Tonny Ondoga, the Katakwi District Police Commander, says his
office has forwarded the matter to the region because of its magnitude.
The Chief Administrative Officer, Alias Saraphine, says his office is working
on modalities of getting for the displaced people relief items.
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On February 19th, 2019, Local Government Minister, Tom Butime
declared Katakwi/Napak announced the border line between the two districts.
However, the Napaka district have since rejected verdict.
Joseph Lomonyang, Napak District LC 5 Chairperson,
denies claims that his electorate have assaulted or kidnapped their neighbors.
Lomonyang
has promised to visit the disputed area later today to establish the facts on
ground.
Salume Among
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