In 2017, Lira Municipal council started developing a plan to use the land as their burial ground drawing protests from the former leaders of Akalo Sub County rendering the land idle.
The move by Lira City Council Authorities to set up a public Cemetary in Akalo Town Council in Kole district has met stiff resistance from
residents. In 1992, the then Lira Municipal Council procured about 25 acres of
land in Acan-Pii Village, Akalo Sub County now Town Council in Kole district
from George Abongo at Shillings 8 million to establish a cemetery in the near
future.
In 2017, Lira Municipal council started developing a plan to use the land as
their burial ground drawing protests from the former leaders of Akalo Sub
County rendering the land idle. However, on Wednesday Lira City Council
Authority transported two bodies for burial on the land in question but they
were stopped by angry residents.
This
prompted Lira City authorities to back off their plans to bury the unidentified bodies. Tom Atine, Milton Oculi and Florence Atapara are some of the
residents of the affected area. They told URN that the move by Lira City
Authority to use the land as a burial ground would pose a health risk beside
causing air and water pollution.
//Cue in: "Nyinga Tom Atine ...
Cue out: ... Kan nyo dakataloro."//
Ezekiel Awira, the Akalo Town Council LC 3 Chairperson says that they convened
a community meeting with residents who rejected the move by Lira City Authorities
to establish a cemetery in the area.
According to Awira, Akalo Town Council subsequently held a
meeting and equally rejected the move. He says that they resolved that Lira
City Authority can go ahead and use the land for any other development projects
like establishing a school rather than a cemetery.
//Cue in: "On learning that ...
Cue out: ... like school, hospital."//
Sam Atul, the Lira City mayor told URN that they are
looking forward to engaging the affected residents to settle the matter amicably.
Solomon Okabo
Freelancer