‘Landmines, warriors hindering resettlement’

Jan 26, 2007

LANDMINES in Pader and the persistent Karimojong raids are hampering the return of displaced persons to their villages.

By Patrick Jaramogi

LANDMINES in Pader and the persistent Karimojong raids are hampering the return of displaced persons to their villages.

District chairman Peter Odok W’ochieng said at the district headquarters on Thursday: “People are eager to return to their homes but some key issues are blocking them. These include uncleared landmines and ordinances in the south, inadequate security, Karimojong warriors in the east and poor infrastructure.”

W’ochieng, who described the warriors as a menace, said they killed 22 people in Pader and stole over 150 head of cattle last year.

“I appeal to the Office of the Prime Minister to quicken the process of exploding these mines. We are getting a lot of pressure from the people who want to go home.”

He said Puranga, one of the biggest camps in the district, had been decongested and split into two smaller ones.

He urged the leading agencies providing relief in the district to install water points ahead of the peoples return.

Disaster preparedness state minister Musa Ecweru said the Government had secured enough seeds and other relief items for the returnees.

“In about two weeks, you will be receiving seeds as well as sickles to clear bushes. I want Pader to be one of the leading exporters of food in the region and shock the UN agencies supplying you now,” he said.

Resident district commissioner Lt. Okot Lapolo said security had been beefed with the deployment of the Anti-Stock Theft Unit.

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