The outstanding arrears include 37.4 Million shillings for Pece Division, 12.5 Million Shillings for Bardege, and 6.7 Million Shillings for Laroo and 5.4 Million Shillings for Layibi
The affected group came up earlier to cry for help, saying many of them were starving and pleaded to be classified as a vulnerable group that needs to be considered for urgent food relief. The group also threatened to name and shame leaders who benefit from their illicit trade, who have abandoned them at their time of need.
A section of the traders who deal in fruits; salt, soap, sugar, cooking oil and some appliances among others said that they are forced back on the streets to generate some income to feed their families.
Dr. Felix Kaducu Ocaka, the Dean Faculty of Medicine and Dr. Richard Echodu, the Director, Biosciences Research Laboratories at the Uganda, say government should consider the facility to complement Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe, Uganda’s only reference laboratory.
During the financial year 2018/2019, the Division Council resolved to reclaim the swampland and build a recreation center by clearing the site to plant grass and ecologically friendly trees for shade and build two monumental fish ponds.
Area leaders have observed that wetlands across the divisions have been sold, reclaimed and encroached upon by residents without proper regulations. Many of the encroachers allegedly say that the swamplands are not well defined.
Ezekiel Emitu, the Aswa River Region Police Commander- RPC, says the latest victim of the attacks is 29-year-old Benedict Okumu. He was hit with a blunt object on August 25th, 2019. He succumbed to the injuries he sustained in the attack at St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor on August 31.
According to Okema, the deceased is suspected have been strangled to death by unknown people. He says that the thugs cut the iron sheets to gain access into a motorcycle spare parts shop that the deceased was guarding.
