MP Fungaroo Wants Police Investigated Over 2014 Violent Clashes Between Madi and Kuku Tribes

By Robert Ariaka

Arua July 21, 2016

Email: ariaka2012robert@gmail.com 
Tel: +256777374441

 The Member of Parliament for Obongi County Kaps Hassan Fungaroo demands police CID Kibuli to equally investigate fellow police officers in Moyo who permitted demonstration that ended into clashes between the South Sudanses and Ugandans along the border.

While addressing press conference at Hotel pacific on Thursday afternoon, Fungaroo said he received summons to record statement at police CID headquarters but due to time factor he could not comply with the date to record statement.

Fungaroo received the letter on July 15th 2016 and office of the speaker parliament of Uganda received the letter on july 1st 2016 as it was sent through the speaker Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga.

Fungaroo says on the day of the demonstration, they short permission from the Police in Moyo who permitted the demonstrations. He says during the demonstration, nobody was killed but death cases registered came later when the district leaders of Moyo sat in a council meeting to agree protest following the kidnap of their leaders by South Sudanese security during the census exercise.

Cue in: "Here is the letter"
Cue out… "Security of the demonstration"

"I expect police CID headquarters to also summon the DPC moyo and his officers who permitted the demonstration and stop focusing on politicians" Fungaroo said.

According to Fungaroo, after the violent clashes, the two clans of Kuku in Kajokeji and MAdi in Moyo have reconciled and existed peacefully. He says by government coming now to investigate the matter is trying to incite more violence to create divide and rule policy among the locals living along the border.

On the issues of the unresolved border conflict between Uganda and South Sudan, Fungaroo blamed heads of the two states for failing to resolve the border conflict, arguing they want to create more divisions between the people living along the border.

Cue in: "For the sake"
Cue out…. "To arrest the President"

Auru Anne, the former Woman MP Moyo, accepted receiving the letter summoning her and the two MPs, but wondered why they are followed now when it has taken long time.

Police CID headquarters of Kibuli Kampala in a letter dated June 30 2016 summoned three Moyo Legislatures to record statement following a violent demonstration they allegedly engineered in 2014 where the two clans of the Madi people in Moyo district and the Kuku tribes in Kajokeji clashed.

The legislatures are MP Kaps Hassan Fungaroo of Obongi County, Tom Alero Aza of West Moyo County and Ann Auru, the former woman MP Moyo district.

In a letter dated June 30th 2016 signed by Joseph Obwana for Directorate Criminal investigations copy to Inspector general of police with CID/A 131/155, it is alleged that, the Madi community clashed with the Kuku tribe leaving 17 people dead, causing injuries, raiding cattle and burning houses.

It's further alleged that, the politicians being the area MPs then participated in the mobilization and leading the alleged two communities during the violent demonstrations reads the letter in part.

In accordance and pursuit to section 27A (1,2 and 3) of the police Act, cap 303, you are thereby required to report to Kibuli CID headquarters on July 11, 2016 at 090o/c in person without fail for interview and statement recording.
The letter further states that, you are advised to carry with you any documents material in the case as quoted above.
 

 

Arua Woman MP Abductedand Assaulted in a Trap Set by Yumbe Leaders over Ewanga Sub County Conflict

By Robert Ariaka

Yumbe July 23, 2016

Email: ariaka2012robert@gmail.com 
Tel: +256777374441

The Woman Member of Parliament Arua district Mourine OSoru is nursing pains and injuries after she was ambushed in a planned move by the leaders of Yumbe district local government while heading to attend a meeting in the disputed Ewanga sub county on Saturday.

Osoru entered a trap at around 4:00pm in Ariwa Sub County Yumbe district where she found a trench dug on the road blocking access to Ewanga Sub County. When her driver stopped, a group of hooligans led by the district councilors Yumbe who emerged from the official car of the LCV Yumbe Taban Yassin grabbed the keys from Osoru’s driver who happens to be the MPS mother and started assaulting them.

Speaking to journalists from Yumbe CPS, MP Osoru disclosed that, after they were captured, the hooligans pulled her and the driver out of the car, boxed and threw her down kicking her on the chest several times before ordering them to enter the car where they were driven and abandoned in Odravu Sub County.

Cue in: “As we were going”

Cue out… “Just boxing me and all”

She says the hooligans warned them not to talk while in the car as they threatened to kill all of them if they made any statement with directives from Yumbe district leaders.

The car Toyota Noah with registration number UAQ 420M which MP Osoru travelled in was abandoned at Odravu on a road next to the Sub County offices, while Osoru and her team picked boda bodas who dropped them at Yumbe CPS to seek protection.

Cue in: “All what I kept telling them”

Cue out… “Left it there on the road”

However, the news of Osoru’s kidnap reached the RDC Arua Peter Dibele who together with two Area MPs for Lower and Upper Madi, Ogama Ali Ismail and Isaac Etuka respectively were already addressing the locals in Ewanga Sub County to explain unscrupulous letter dated 13, 06 2016 written by the acting permanent Secretary that Ewanga has been given to Yumbe District.

The RDC together with the two MPs, councilors from Arua, a team of journalists and police escorts drove to Yumbe CPS where Osoru took protection until 7:30pm when she was handed over to the leaders of Arua.

A team of police field force unit officers from Yumbe were forced to escort Osoru together with the district leaders of Arua up to Koboko Police station as the councilors in Yumbe stormed the CPS threatening and insulting the RDC to stop accessing Ewanga Sub County.

MP Osoru’s vehicles which the hooligans abandoned at Odravu Sub County on the road was recovered without damages and handed back to her driver who then used it to drive her to Arua.

Isaac Etuka the MP for Upper Madi condemned the act of the leaders in Yumbe demanding for immediate investigations and arrest of Yumbe leaders suspected in the kidnap. He says from time memorial, Ewanga belonged to Arua with its people who are Madi speaking tribe.

He faulted the ministry of local government for the continuous delays in resolving the dispute over Ewanga. MP Etuka who seats in the local government committee of Parliament promised to task the Local government minister and permanent secretary to come on ground and declare their position on Ewanga to end the conflict.

Cue in: “Am really going to”

Cue out… “Made operational”

Meanwhile, the RDC Arua Peter Dibele demanded the two MPs for Lower and Upper Madi Counties to inform their colleague MPS from West Nile and seat for an emergency meeting over the issue of the assault of the woman MP Osoru and also resolve on how to end the long outstanding Ewanga conflict.

End

Teachers Demand government on Hard to Reach Allowance

By Robert Ariaka

Arua April 30, 2016

Teachers posted to teach in hard to reach areas are demanding government to consider them for hard to reach allowance.

Speaking to URN, Kazmiro Eyobi, a teacher of Ayavu primary school in Ogoko Sub County says, due to long distance, some teachers who are not accommodated within the schools fail to concentrate.

He says once teacher in the district sub counties are paid allowance, they will be able to use the money to cater for transport especially where the school has poor accommodation for teachers.

Cue in: “Challenges of accommodation”

Cue out… “Much about that”

Eyobi says the school has eight teachers including the head teacher, but six are accommodated in poor houses forcing the teacher to opt residing from their homes and travel long distances to teach.

Ogoko Sub County is 80km away from Arua town and most of the teachers posted abandon the sub county over hard living conditions.

Florence Munduru, the deputy head teacher of Roga primary school in the contentious Ewanga sub county Arua district says, teachers who are posted in the far parts of Arua district abandon teaching because they find it hard to settle.

According to Munduru, paying hard to reach allowance will help retain teachers in the far areas and also make it easy for them to visit their families.

Cue in: “Because these teachers”

Cue out… “They will settle”

She says out of 13 teachers posted in the school, only six are available while others have left due to hard living conditions.

Acia Marino, the DEO Arua says, government has not considered teachers in Arua for hard to reach allowance yet some health workers are considered. He appeals to the political leaders to lobby government to provide money for teachers posted in hard to reach areas.

Acia identified the most deserted areas by teachers as Ewanga, Rigbo, Pawor, Rhinocamp, Ogoko, Anyiribu, Offaka, Logiri and Adumi Sub Counties in Arua district.

He says once teachers are paid hard to reach allowance, they will be able to use the money to settle their families and also be able to visit their homes on monthly basis.

Cue in: “Their observation is correct”

Cue out…. “By the government”

He says for now, the teachers are not paid hard to reach allowance which makes it a challenge to control them.

Currently Arua district has a total of 26 government aided secondary schools, 34 private secondary schools while there are 246 primary government aided primary schools in Arua main and 16 in Arua municipality.

End.

Locals Task West Nile Leaders to Demand Government on 1.5km Kiakia Bridge Construction

The spot where Kiakia bridge is to be constructed on River Nile and Enyau swampsto link Arua Yumbe and Moyo districts in West Nile region

Locals Task West Nile Leaders to Demand Government on 1.5km Kiakia Bridge Construction

By Robert Ariaka

Arua April 27, 2016

The construction of Kiakia Bridge which links the three districts of Arua Yumbe and Moyo to Juba in South Sudan is raising concerns as the local residents in the area are challenging their leaders to demand government to construct the Bridge.

Kiakia Bridge which is expected to cost 3.4 billion shillings was budgeted in 2011/12 financial year for construction but to date it has not been implemented. Kiakia bridge which is one and half kilometer is located on a point where river Eyau joins River Nile.

For one to access the two sub counties of Rigbo and the contentious Ewanga in Arua, the person has to cross via river Nile on a motor boat at a cost of 10,000 shillings while the alternative route is for one to travel from Arua via Yumbe to reach Ewanga which is 120 km at a cost of 15,000 shillings.

Once the bridge is constructed, it will link the three districts of Arua Yumbe and Moyo. Patricia Oyerua resident of Rigbo sub county a dealer in fish business says once you buy fish, it becomes difficult to transport them from Ewanga to Arua since they have to first use water transport to cross from Ewanga to Rigbo using a motor boat on river Nile before joining road to connect to Arua town.

She says the absence of the bridge makes business people suffer in transporting their fish to Arua where the biggest market is found. According to Oyeru, if the bridge is built, it wills easy movement via Rigbo to Ewanga, Yumbe and Obongi in Moyo district.

Faima Letiru the female councilor elect for Ewanga and Rigbo sub counties to Arua district says the swamp from River Enyau has divided the two sub counties and it was already planned for construction.

She says once the bridge is constructed, it will solve the issue of accessing the two sub counties since both Arua and Yumbe have faced challenges in extending support in terms of service delivery.

Cue in: “Ewanga has a big challenge”

Cue out…. “From Arua district”

Letiru says once she assumes office, she will ensure that Arua district local government follows up the matter with central government where Uganda National Roads Authority will responsible for the construction of the bridge.

Night Odaru, from Ewanga who is also a fish dealer says, road transport is in accessible since they roads are bad and they have to access water transport on river Nile to access Rigbo.

According to Odaru, when they want to cross from Rigbo to Ewanga or Obongi, they sometimes wait for hours as they wait for a boat to cross the river.

She says, once the Kiakia Bridge is constructed and maintains the road connecting Arua to Yumbe via Rigbo and Ewanga, transpot costs will be cheap compared to the long route from Arua to Yumbe.

Cue in: “Kiakia Bridge”

Cue out… “Means of transport”

Ogama Ali Ismaial, the MP elect for Lower Madi Okollo County where the bridge is located says he will ensure government takes the bridge for construction to avoid the long distance of traveling to Yumbe to access Ewanga Sub County.

The MP for Obongi County Hassan Kaps Fungaroo says as leaders affected by the absence of the bridge, government needs to prioritize construction of Kiakia Bridge to ease road access from Arua to Yumbe and Moyo direct to Juba in South Sudan.

“Kiakia Bridge is a project government should take into consideration since it easily connects to South Sudan” Fungarro said. He says, the people living along the river Nile belts are mostly surviving on fish business and for government to gain more revenue from the fish industry; access road and bridges need to be constructed to boost economic activities.

Fungaroo says, his is a worker and needs results regardless of party differences and appeals to the ruling government leaders to unite for a common development. Fungaroo says, the way forward to lobby Kiakia Bridge is to ensure all the MPs need to unite regardless of party differences. He says West Nile leaders fight themselves and forget fighting for development.

Simon Ejua, the former minister for transport says, the bridge has been on budget, but the money was not remitted. He says, the issue of the bridge was already considered and needs to be followed up by leaders to ensure the bridge is constructed.

End.

Local Leaders Reject Splatered Ferry For Arua and Amuru on River Nile

By Robert Ariaka

Arua April 27, 2016

Local leaders of Rhino Camp Sub County in Arua district have rejected a ferry donated to them by Allan Kagina, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) Executive Director.

The Ferry was part of President Yoweri Museveni’s pledge for the people of Madi Okollo County in Arua district.

Kagina, who earlier visited Rhino Camp landing site promised to fulfill the Presidential pledge after elections.

“The Ferry will help to link the two districts of Arua and Amuru via River Nile.

When the February elections ended, Kagina acted by directing officials of UNRA to reassemble the old Ferry formerly at Laropi landing site in Adjumani district for the people of Rhino Camp.

However, on learning of Kagina’s second hand ferry being assembled at UNRA head office in Arua, the locals, through their leaders, rejected the offer.

Droma Atilio, the councilor representing the people of Rhinocamp to Arua district council says the ferry which is currently been assembled at Arua UNRA offices is an old one which was formerly in Laropi and not meant for the people of Rhinocamp.

He says, a presidential pledge can’t be an old machine arguing it’s a junk ferry which will not last.

According to Atilio, the new ferry which was meant for the people of Rhino camp was diverted to Adjumani and the old ferry of Adjumani was brought to fulfill the Presidential pledge.

Abiko Jane Rose, the female councilor for Rhincampa and Rigbo says they will not allow the people accept the ferry but rather allow them use their motorized boats.

Currently the ferry which is at Arua UNRA parking yard is been painted with a black color.

“I can’t allow my people to drown in River Nile because of this old Ferry. If the government is not in position to give us a new Ferry, let the offer be,” Droma argued.

Droma accused some government officials of covering up people’s demand for a new Ferry for fear of losing their jobs.

Earlier on, Kagina promised to have the Ferry operational by May this year.

The RDC Arua Peter Dibele, recently appealed to the people of Rhinocamp to accept the ferry.

When contacted on phone, the Busoza Abakari, the acting station manager UNRA Arua says he is not in position to speak about the ferry on conditions that he has been transferred to Gulu.

The ferry which is been painted is currently scattered at Arua UNRA office.

End.