By Simon Turibamwe
The government through the Office of the Prime Minister has decided to feed the people being relocated from East Madi Game Reserve in Apaa Adjumani district.
According to the Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, the government has decided to facilitate the relocation of the Apaa residents who have been previously occupying the game reserve.
Rugunda disclosed this while meeting the leaders of the conflicting Apaa communities.
He revealed that the cabinet meeting chaired by President Museveni recently, resolved that those people in the East Madi Game Reserve who acquired National Identification Cards between 2013 and 2014 as residents of Apaa will be assisted with Sh10m, 20 bags of cement and 20 iron sheets, per household, While those who did not possess National Identity cards but also living in Apaa will be receive only Sh2m per household to assist them to relocate.
He added that both the Identity Card possessors and none ID possessors will be receiving relief food from the government for the period of 12 months.
He noted that the reason of feeding the group for 12 months is to allow them time to grow their own food wherever they will go for settlement.
The Prime Minister said that the exercise will be conducted in an organized, planned and humane manner, with dignity and be completed by the end of June 2019.
Rugunda however appealed to leaders of the two communities at the local and national level to sensitize the people about the above decisions.
The Prime Minister informed the two worrying parties that the decision was taken by cabinet after failing to reach a common position in a series of the meetings that has been ongoing in Gulu between their leaders.
Rugunda stated that: “Following several meetings between the two groups held in Gulu in the course of last year, during which no common position was reached, Cabinet early this year, under the Chairmanship of HE President Yoweri Museveni considered the matter and made his decision.” However, the news of facilitating them was not welcomed, instead they demand that Apaa land be degazetted for human settlement.
The land measuring about 827 square kilometres borders Amuru and Adjumani districts and is being claimed by communities.
The government on the other hand claims the land under contention is a protected East Madi Wildlife Reserve gazetted by Parliament in 2002. For comments, call or text us on 0752510225.
