Barlonyo massacre commemoration postponed

The annual commemoration of the Barlonyo massacre that usually takes place on February 21^st has been postponed to February 27^th, area Member of Parliament Charles Angiro Gutomoi has said.

Angiro said the function has been postponed to give time for the Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda to attend since he said he could not make it on February 21 due to official commitments.

He said they have selected the day because it coincides with the date the victims were officially buried at a ceremony attended by President Yoweri Museveni.

Rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) on February 2004 attacked Barlonyo Internally Displaced Persons(IDP) camp and butchered over 300 people.

The rebels overpowered the 30 strong Amuka militias and forced themselves into the camp where they cut the victims with machetes, shot and burnt others in their huts.

Present Barlonyo IDP camp

The former IDP camp is now a thriving trading centre with its population growing daily.

Some NGOs have opened up schools in the village and government built a vocational institution, Barlonyo Memorial Technical School.

Angiro said government has fulfilled its pledges to the community of Barlonyo but they are missing a health centre and electricity. He said the issue of electricity is being worked upon and there is a road in place.

President Yoweri Museveni made a number of pledges to the people of Barlonyo including the construction of the school, Kaguta bridge which connects the place to Otuke and beyond. All these have been fulfilled and the bridge is yet to be officially commissioned.

Angiro said another challenge is fighting poverty in the area. He also said government had pledge iron sheets for Barlonyo Church of Uganda and Barlonyo chapel which is yet to be fulfilled.

During the 6^th anniversary commemoration, President Museveni donated sh5m towards the construction of a church at Barlonyo.

The area MP commended the Prime minister for always being there for the people of Barlonyo.