Jimmy Ouna, the NFA Northern Regional Manager says the move is aimed at restoring bamboo plants that were depleted from the forest reserve over the years due to encroachment and high demands.
Ouna says NFA plans to restore bamboo on 100 hectares’ piece of land at the forest reserve to increase the forest cover.
85 landowners in the area accuse UEDCL staff of destroying their crops and cutting several endangered shea nut tree species on their land to pave way for the distribution lines.
Nicholas Amone the LCI Lubala village says 120 households have been affected with over 500 acres of food crops including cassava, beans Sorghum destroyed by the floods.
Over 85 residents from eight villages in Angagura Subcounty accuse the power distribution company of delaying to compensate them for properties damaged while erecting electricity transmission poles on their land.
The contested land with its boundaries extending into Latanya Sub County in Pader district measures 50 square miles. It was purportedly bought from 39 individuals in Lagoro, Kitgum and 63 others in Wol Sub County in present day Agago around 1968.
The Pader district LC5 Chairperson has been bluntly criticizing the controversial ownership of contested Aswa Ranch located in Angagura Sub-County by National Animal Genetic Resources Centre NAGRIC and the influx of Balaalo herdsmen in the area.
James Opira, a teacher in Atanga Primary school says many parents he has interacted with believe that school teachers are untrained to handle children with low cognitive abilities. Although nodding syndrome has been reported in Gulu, Kitgum, Oyam, Pader, Agago and parts of Lira district, only Gulu and Kitgum have a rehabilitation centers for children affected by the disease.
Albert Onyango, the Agago District Police Commander, says the women were using 22 new long lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets distributed by the Health Ministry to trap fish in the stream.
Some of the unexploded ordnance were found in Aswa Ranch, the site of a mini hydroelectricity dam that government plans to build in Angaggura Sub County, while others are scattered in different villages across the district.
The tentative rate ranges between Shs 10,000 and Shs 150,000. Residences, which are considered to generate the least amount of garbage, will pay an equivalent of about Shs 1,000 or less every month. This however has to be endorsed by the district council and the Attorney General, before it is operationalized, Otim says.
Col. Stephen Mugerwa, the Deputy Commander UPDF 5th Division says the eviction is meant to ensure the safety of residents and government installations.
Authorities in Pader district are investigating some members of Village Environment Committees (VEC) in the district for promoting deforestation. A bag of charcoal in Pader costs between 20,000 and 35,000 shillings.
