According to the residents, the soldiers were deployed in the area on Friday last week under unclear circumstances, causing anxiety among the locals. Hakim Alua, a resident of Ocea says they are living in fear since their areas are being patrolled by soldiers whose mission is unknown. He further noted that the soldiers have arrested several youths on unclear charges.
Residents of Ocea village, Katiku
parish in Uriama Sub County, are protesting the deployment of Uganda People’s
Defense Forces-UPDF soldiers on the disputed Ocea market which is being claimed
by Terego and Madi Okello districts.
For long, the two districts have
been embroiled in a dispute at Uriama and Rigbo sub-counties especially over revenue
collection Ocea Market and the location of Quiver secondary school.
According to the residents, the
soldiers were deployed in the area on Friday last week under unclear motive,
causing anxiety among the locals.
Hakim Alua, a resident of Ocea
says they are living in fear since their areas are being patrolled by soldiers
whose motive is unknown. He further noted that the soldiers have arrested several
youths on unclear charges.
Gift Olima, another resident has requested an explanation from top security officials in the district on the
deployment of the soldier in the area.
Kamure Titia, a farmer in the
area says the deployment of the soldiers is suspicious since it disregarded the
chain of command.
//Cue in: “This was my tender…//
Cue out: …scattered the
workers.”//
However, Winfred Saka, the Terego
LC5 chairperson has cautioned the UPDF from taking sides in the protracted
border dispute, something he says could tarnish their image.
//Cue in: “This was my tender…//
Cue out: …scattered the
workers.”//
But, Colonel Jackson Kayanja UPDF
409 Brigade Commander, says he is not aware of the deployment noting that he is
not within the region.
//Cue in: “This was my tender…//
Cue out: …scattered the
workers.”//
On Wednesday this week, locals in
the two sub counties clashed over management of Ocea market, located in the
disputed border area. At least nine people were arrested and has
since been released.
Uriama sub county council awarded
the market tender to Kamure Titia, a resident of Terego district while, the
same market was also allegedly awarded to Oluba Community Development
Association by Rigbo sub county officials in Madi Okollo district.
The border conflict between
Uriama sub county in Terego district and Rigbo sub county in Madi-Okollo
district started in late 1990s over resources like taxes, land for agriculture
and access to the Nile river.
