Amuru IDPs, forestry authority officials clash over forest reserve

Jun 18, 2007

THE internally displaced people (IDP) living in Omee Upper Camp in Wiceri Central Forest Reserve in Amuru district over the weekend clashed with the National Forestry Authority officials who were demarcating the boundaries of the forest.

By Chris Ocowun

THE internally displaced people (IDP) living in Omee Upper Camp in Wiceri Central Forest Reserve in Amuru district over the weekend clashed with the National Forestry Authority officials who were demarcating the boundaries of the forest.

Armed with spears, pangas, arrows and bows and axes, the IDPs chased away the forestry authority officials, whom they accused of grabbing their land.

The army, the Police and local authorities intervened and quelled the riot.

The security team, lead by the officer in charge of the district Police station, Charles Okullu, advised the National Forestry Authority (NFA) officials to suspend the exercise.

The IDPs, who placed big logs across the road, vowed to set ablaze the NFA vehicles if they attempted to reach the camp.

“The staff wanted to open the forest boundary so that we know how many people are living in the reserve. We were not going to evict anybody now. I appeal to the people not to look at NFA as land grabbers,” the NFA Aswa range manager, Jimmy Ouna, told the IDPs during a meeting.

He said the forest reserve, which measures 6507.6 hectares, was gazetted on April 1954.

Ouna warned that those interfering with the activities of the forestry authority risk being jailed for three years or being fined sh600,000 if convicted.

The LC3 chairman of Pabbo sub-county, Christopher Ojera, accused NFA officials of inciting people against the Government.
“NFA should stop their operations until all the problems are sorted out.”

He added that NFA should first sensitise the area leaders about their activities before they demarcate the boundaries of the forest.

Amuru sub-county councillor Gilbert Olanya said NFA should show them evidence from Parliament showing that Wiceri is a forest reserve.

He commented that the boundaries should be opened after the IDPs return to their villages.

The local leaders suggested that part of the reserve should be de-gazetted for settlement and farming.

Richard Omona, a resident of the camp, revealed that they had collected over 1,000 signatures petitioning the President Yoweri Museveni and the Parliament to resolve the problem.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});