Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny, the State minister for Northern Uganda has revealed that the government has directed relevant authorities to launch investigation on the intention of some individuals who are reportedly ferrying locals from central Uganda who are non-inhabitant of to Apaa land and placing them to settle in the contested Apaa land especially Zoka forest reserve.
Minister Kwiyocwiny revealed this development last Thursday while addressing the media on the success of the implementation of presidential executive order number 03 of 2023.
The move to investigate the people ferrying the locals from central Uganda to Apaa emerged following the recent report by UPDF which established that out of 80,000 people occupying Apaa, 80 percent are neither Acholi nor Madi, however Madai and Acholi were found to be only 20 percent respectively.
Minster says the government is now concern on why some individuals are ferrying local people from central districts of Uganda such as Lwero, Mityana, Bugweri, Kyankwanzi, Mukono, Iganga, Tororo among others and bringing them to Apaa the land with tension.
According to the minister these non-habitants are the one engaging depletion of vegetation cover through massive commercial charcoal businesses.
Last week, a number of people who were said to have been staying in Apaa illegally and majorities were those who were ferried from central Uganda were expelled by the 4th infantry divisions commander who ordered them to vacate Apaa within the shortest time possible.
The order came following the recent attack tagged to unknown assailants who killed 6 people and injured 11 people.
Following the ultimatum, the affected people thronged the office of the prime minister in Gulu city seeking for transport mean to help them go back to their respective district but were in vain because the official at OPM replied to them that the government will not give them any aid as there were issued order to vacate the land earlier this year.
However, in her statement, the minister revealed that these affected people were later transported back to their respective districts on a UPDF truck provided by UPDF 4th infantry division commander.
These affected people were women, men and children who were seen loitering in Gulu city with their baggage on their head.
