Lalobo Valentino, Chairperson of the Natural Resource Committee in Pungole Parish and Council member of Payira Clan told URN during an interview that hundreds of the traditional trees have already been destroyed and used for timbers, logs, and charcoal by NAGRC&DB.
Left to Right Santa Okot (Aruu North MP), Lalobo Valentino, Chairperson Natural Resource Committee and Opira Kasumu the Chairperson of Payira Clan standing behind felled shea trees.
The government has come under sharp criticism from the Acholi
Chiefdom over the extensive and uncontrolled destruction of ‘’sacred traditional
trees’’ in the Acholi sub-region under the of promoting food security.
Gov`t through the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre
and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry
and Fisheries (MAAIF) are currently involved in growing cereals on thousands
of acres of land in Angagura, Ajan, and Laguti Sub Counties and parts of Nwoya
district as part of ensuring food security and improve animal production.
The other participating agencies include Uganda Prisons Services-UPS, Uganda
People`s Defence Force-UPDF, the National Agricultural
Research Organization (NARO), and the National Executive Committee of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
However, traditional leaders and elders in the project areas are accusing NAGRC&DB of siding with powerful individuals to cut down and
destroy ‘’sacred traditional trees’’ including Shea nut (locally known as yaa), Afzelia Africana (Beyo), Philenoptera Laxiflora (Olwedo), and, Kigelia
Africana (Okango).
They say that besides the economic relevance of the project,
its implementers are indiscriminately felling protected tree species in the disguise of implementing the project. The forest products are reportedly being sold out for charcoal dealers, logs, and timber and are frequently seen being transported from the project areas under the protection of armed security personnel.
The said trees are hardwood and produce high-quality
charcoal, timbers, and logs, which are lucrative in central Uganda
and outside the country. The traditional trees, which are considered sacred in Acholi are predominantly used ceremonially for rituals, enthronement, appeasing
the gods, conflict resolution and mediation, restoring peace, seeking blessings
from the gods, bringing good luck as well as invoking good omens and fortune.
The prominence and value of the traditional trees rose to
the attention of the world at the peak of the rebel Lord`s Resistance Army-LRA insurgency when
the Acholi traditional leaders used some of the trees to woo the rebels to return
home or give protection to the community from attacks and bad omens at that
time.
Lalobo Valentino, the Chairperson of the Natural Resource
Committee in Pungole Parish and Payira Clan council member told URN during
an interview that hundreds of the traditional trees have already been destroyed and used for timbers, logs, and charcoal by NAGRC&DB. Lalobo says he personally met and interacted with
NAGRC&DB officials and asked them not to destroy the trees because of their uniqueness
but they chose not to appreciate or respect the values of the Acholi tradition.
According to Lalobo, the destruction of the ‘’sacred
traditional trees’’ is threatening the livelihood of the people as it might
attract bad omens such as lightning strikes and the destruction of crops.
//Cue in: ‘’anongo joni awaci…
Cue out: …dong gin acama.’’//
Opira Kasumu Pa Obwona, the Chairperson of Payira Clan told
URN that he instructed his council to immediately stop the destruction
of the sacred trees within ‘’Aswa Ranch’’ but NAGRC&DB turned a
deaf ear.
//Cue in: ‘’nongo tyen…
Cue out: …ceto gi yaa.’’//
Opira explains that once the tree is cut down, it calls for
cleansing and appeasing of the gods by the cultural institution, which involves
the slaughtering of cattle, goats, and a cock.
//Cue in: ‘’I cik me…
Cue out: …bedi ki jungu.’’//
Florence Acut, an elderly woman said the destruction of
the sacred trees is a big threat to the culture of Acholi. Acut, who is demanding an immediate halt to the destruction
of the sacred traditional trees, says women use the shea nut butter to keep
newly born babies healthy.
//Cue in: ‘’yaa kum bedi…
Cue out: …yaa dwong ata.’’//
Filder Adok Lacankwite, says she is extremely saddened by
the move to wipe out the traditional trees and what she described as a war on
the culture of Acholi.
//Cue in: ‘’yaa tye I …
Cue out: …eni lweny.’’//
Santa Okot, the Aruu North Member of Parliament, says that
members of the community are so aggrieved by the damage caused to their
cultural affiliation and the threat to their heritage.
//Cue in: ‘’a number of…
Cue out: …do their business.’’//
She adds that the suspicion against the actions of NAGRC&DB makes sense due to the extension of their projects on the community land without
consulting area leaders.
//Cue in: ‘’the government has…
Cue out: …in this area.’’//
Rwot Oywelo Picho of
Ariya Clan in Got Apwoyo Sub County in Nwoya district where the same project is
being implemented has raised similar concerns. However, Dr. Peter Bein the Executive Director of NAGRC&DB
has downplayed the allegations noting that they are environmentally conscious
and not destroying traditional trees.
He maintained that the activities on the land are meant to
enhance livestock and food productivity in the area and country
//Cue in: ‘’no-no-no…
Cue out: …doing the needful.’’//
Joseph Otim, the National Forestry Authority (NFA) sector
manager for Aswa River Range decries the extensive
forest destruction in the area under the pretext of government programs noting
that it requires concerted efforts to avert it.
//Cue in: ‘’what is happening…
Cue out: …opening agricultural land.’’//
On Friday URN visited Bur Lobo Parish in Angagura Sub County,
Pader district, and discovered that thousands of the traditional trees have
been uprooted, cut down, chopped into pieces, and stacked in logs.
Tractors and excavators were also found operating in the
area, opening up the land while breakdown trucks were also seen loaded with logs.
Casual workers found on the ground told this reporter on
conditions of anonymity that they were instructed by their bosses to fell the
traditional trees.
The symbolisms of The Traditional Shea Nut, Okango, and
Olwedo Trees
The shea nut tree (yaa) and its
seeds in the Acholi-Luo of Northern Uganda produce butter which is realized
from handmade extractions of the fruit`s fatty kernels.
It is used ceremonially for example in anointing warriors for
battle, enthroning a cultural leader, and naming newborn babies. It also evokes
exuberant health and youthful skin among various food nutrients.
On the other hand, the Philenoptera Laxiflora
(Olwedo) is a much revered symbolic tree representing peace. Its leaves are commonly used among the Acholi people to
bring peace between conflicting parties, bring blessings and good luck, calm
hardships, stop sufferings, facilitate a reconciliation process, as well as
invoking good omens and good fortune.
The Olwedo leaves were widely used to mediate peace talks
between the LRA rebel group and the Acholi community, welcome the LRA
returnees, lead ways for peace mediators, protect night commuters and those
sleeping in the bush, and seek the intervention of the Acholi spirits in the
war.
Meanwhile, Okango is a tree that symbolizes
the strength, protection, and power of the gods.
It is also ceremonially used as a guard in the homestead and
symbolizes divinity when naming children believed to have come from the gods of
the land.
They include twins (Ocen, Opiyo, Apiyo, and Acen) (rudi),
those with extra fingers or extra nails (Ojara and Lajara), one who came out
with the legs first (Odoch and Adoch), Ojok and Ajok (that belonging to the
gods), that born during rain (Okot and Akot).