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.

Political Interest Manipulating Ewanga Sub County Conflict

By Robert Ariaka
Arua April 27, 2016

The fight on the newly created and non-operational Ewanga Sub County in Arua district is largely caused by political interest and ambitions.

After the creation of the sub county in 2005, it was meant to be operational in 2010 under Arua district local government. However, ministry of local government stopped the operation of Ewanga after
leaders of Yumbe district protested and claimed Ewanga belong to Yumbe.

The LCV chairman Yumbe district Taban Yassin claims, Ewanga is a parish under Odravu Sub County in Yumbe district arguing, they will not allow it to be taken by Arua district.

Taban claims, Arua district is forcefully grabbing Ewanga from Yumbe. He also accuses the ministry of local government for its delay to pronounce self on the contentious Ewanga sub county in Arua district.

Cue in: “Pertaining the issue of Ewanga”
Cue out… “Under the map shit of Rigbo”

The chairman says the ministry failed to communicate and declare where Ewanga belongs when the matter was presented before them thus causing conflict on ground.

According to Taban, the GPS machine shows that Ewanga Sub County belongs to Yumbe yet Arua district is currently taking authority and administration of the sub county. He claims Arua district is forcefully grabbing Ewanga from Yumbe and threatens to mobilize people against the government if it is pronounced in under Arua.

The chairman says if the people of Ewanga want to live in Arua, they will force them to vacate the place claiming it is under Yumbe not Arua.

Candiga Micheal a resident of Ewanga Sub County says, the conflict started due to its position where it is blocked by river Nile and river Eyau which makes it difficult for the leaders in Arua to access it.

He says, the construction of the bridge may easy the access from Arua making it easy to provide service and access to market for produce.

According to Candia, the 1992 census exercise Ewanga was mapped in Yumbe since there was no access from Arua.

Cue in: “Ewanga is occupied”
Cue out… “Access that has created all this”

Sabo Kamilo, the councilor for Aroi Sub County and secretary for finance who participated in the creation of Ewanga Sub County on February 24, 2005to create Ewanga sub county out of Rigbo Sub County, approved by ministry of local government in 2009 and was meant to be operational in 2010. He says all activities and government programs in the sub county are under Arua district.

He says as they created Ewanga Sub County, they considered the aspect of the Madi speaking people who belong to Arua not Yumbe. According to Sabo, Yumbe claiming Ewanga will not work arguing it is a political grabbing which some individual politicians in Yumbe use to prolong the conflict?

Sabo says, the creation of Ewanga Sub County was as a result of complications faced in accessing the place since it is cut off from Rigbo by River Nile. When Yumbe district created Ariwa Sub County, it was operationalized in 2010, but Ewanga was stopped from operating due to the standing conflict.

Cue in: “I was a member of the council”
Cue out… “To deliver service”

In 2011, local leaders were elected in Ewanga Sub County but they were not sworn in to work and service delivery in the area is conducted by Rigbo Sub County which is in Arua district. In the 2016 general elections, the leaders were also elected waiting searing in.

According to Sabo, in this coming financial year, ministry allocated 153 million shillings as indicative planning figure which they are following up with local government ministry to ensure they local leaders are sworn in to operate.

He says, the access to Ewanga is blocked by the absence of Kiakia Bridge where river Enyau joins River Nile.

The chief Administrative officer Arua Esau Ekachelan says, Arua is responsible for the administration of Ewanga in providing services since its existence and there is no claim to consider Ewanga in Yumbe.

Cue in: “When I come here”
Cue out… “Arua district which has been doing it”

The unresolved conflict of Ewanga is crippling service delivery as the sub county still receives service under Rigbo the mother sub county in Arua district.
End

MP Fungaroo blames government over the delay of upgrading Arua Air Field to International AirPort.

MP Fungaroo blames government over the delay of upgrading Arua Air Field to International AirPort.

By Robert Ariaka Yiti.

Arua. November 15, 2012.

Arua Air Field which is to be upgraded to international airport.

The Member of Parliament for Obongi county also Shadow Minster for defense and Security Kaps Hassan Fungaroo has accused the government for the deliberate delay of upgrading Arua air field to international airport.

Addressing a press conference at Arua airfield on Thursday, Fungaroo said Arua air field deserves to be constructed in to an international air port which can handle heavy and big flights since it is one of the biggest airfields in the country.

“This government headed by president Museveni has malicious and deliberate plans to always marginalize the people of West Nile if it comes to huge and credible developments in the region. The government claims the locals do not want to offer land for the airport but the same government has delayed to agree with the people on how to compensate and relocate the people to fasten the developments at the airport” Fungarro said.

The FDC man observed that Uganda only has one international airport at Entebbe and this is a big risk for President Museveni in case there happens to exist a serious problem of insecurity at the only international airport, where will Museveni and his top leaders land when they are from abroad, he asked.

“Instead of allowing people to steal huge monies in the Office of the prime Minister and other departments, such money would be used to facelift the second international airport at Arua to help boast business and international flights” Fungaroo reiterated.

The MP said, even Gulu airfield which holds the capacity of international airport cannot be granted permission to operate international flights just because this government does not want the greater north region and West Nile to develop like other regions yet the people have always sacrificed their lives to vote for the ruling government.

According to Fungarro, it is not fare for somebody from Arua to travel to Entebbe and board to fly to Juba when it would have been easy for us to fly direct from Arua to Juba and DRC.

Fungaroo said it was a big shame us when Uganda hosted the CHOGM, many leaders of foreign states were forced to ask to land in other airports outside Uganda yet it was easy if Arua and Gulu were granted airspace permission to allow such planes to land within the country.

The FDC man warned leaders of the current government that, one day, Uganda will be trapped in a hostage of an air locked country just as it is a land locked country since the country only depends on one international airfield.

“I am advising president Museveni and his leaders that if a serious security threat is posed at the country when the President is abroad, then he will be air locked to land since there is only one international airport. This means it becomes easy to attack the security in Entebbe and there will be no landing site for the president” Fungaroo observed.

He appealed to the president together with the security team and other concerned leaders of this country to ensure that, Arua airfield is face lifted to international airport.

MP Fungaroo also blamed his colleague MPs in the West Nile region for failing to join hands and share a common ground to lobby for such huge developments in the region.

“I am requesting all the concerned leaders of this region who love development to come on board and address a common issue of development so that our place can feature in the international zone” he said.

End.

KKT Bus accident kills eight people, Company suspends operation over tragic accident.

KKT Bus accident kills eight people, Company suspends operation over tragic accident.

By Robert Ariaka Yiti.

Arua. November 19, 2012.

The wreckage of KKT bus that knocked Elephant.

  A survived gets treatment at Arua hospital

One of the dead passengers body at the scene of accident.

Bodies of dead passengers

The management of KKT Bus Company has suspended operations its busses over the tragic accident which occurred along Arua Kampala.

In a press release dated Saturday November 17, 2012 signed by the managing director of KKT Idro Taban, buses of the company will not operate until further notice.

According to the management, they will first vet their drivers and they should undergo a serious testing before the buses can begin plying the Arua Kampala route and other routes.

“We have stopped operation until the transport liencecing board company that examines drivers together with ministry of works and transport confirms and certifies our drivers. This decision was made to save the lives of our customers since many people are going to use our buses this festive season” the letter explains.

The death toll in the accident was later confirmed that eight people perished in the KKT bus accident as another passengers body was lately discovered.

The suspension of KKT bus company service has left joy and privilege in three other bus companies which include Gaagaa, California, and Nile coach to operate along the high ways of Arua Kampala.

e been confirmed dead and 41 survived in the tragic motor accident involving KKT bus which occurred on Friday night along Arua Kampala road.

The accident involving KKT bus with registration number UAM 348H occurred at 11pm at Gotagoyo village in Nwoya district about eight kilometers from Packwach bridge killing eight people and 41passengers were injured in critical condition.

The injured were later transferred to Arua regional referral hospital. 

The bus which was traveling from Koboko heading to Kampala knocked an elephant which was crossing the road and the elephant died on spot. This caused the driver to lose control thereby overturning the bus killing eight people on the spot and 41 survivors were left in critical condition.

 Out of the eight people who perished, seven were men, and one woman.

Police PRO Josephine Angucia identified the dead as Malici Augustine a male adult from Koboko, Amule luke Dinya resident of Kuluba Sub County in Koboko, Gerika Abdu a male adult resident of Koboko, Leni Justine a male adult resident of Bazi in S. Sudan, Yassin Ayiko James a male adult resident of Koboko and two other whose particulars have not been established.

According to police, the driver could have been on a high speed hence knocking the elephant thereby over turning the bus.

The driver and the bus conductors sustained serious injuries and they are admitted with the injured passengers.

Police are still investigating the matter.

End.