THE National Forest Authority (NFA) is in a bitter row with the Catholic community of Nyakaji in Odupi sub-county, Arua district for impounding timber that the Christians had collected to roof their chapel.

Frank Mugabi writes that the former NRC member for Terego County, Romano Asiku Dratrutru, who is also a senior church member, said 328 pieces of timber in different sizes were picked from his farm in Olea village on Thursday.

“I was in Arua town for a meeting when I got a call at around 5:00pm,” Asiku said, adding, “I was told that armed NFA staff had broken doors to the stores where I had kept the church timber and picked everything.”

He said two stores were broken into and the timber, most of it in 6x2 size, seized, including his own 228 pieces.

He said the operation was conducted by six gunmen who shot one bullet in the air to disperse the protesting Christians.

Women and children started yelling as the NFA employees drove off with the timber loaded on two pick-up trucks.