Maracha, UGANDA
Christopher Barugahare, the West Nile region
police commander (RPC) has ordered police to shoot and kill any civilian found
with dangerous weapons like spears, bows and arrows in the ongoing border
dispute between the people of Tara sub-county in Maracha district and their
Lobule sub-county counterparts in Koboko district.
West Nile Regional Police Commander,
Christopher Barugahare warning
communities of Koboko and
Maracha districts, against violence.
Barugahare issued the order on Monday, June 1,
during a meeting convened to resolve the conflict that resulted into
destruction of houses, household property worth millions of shillings and
crops, looting of goats and fish from a fish pond by the aggrieved locals.
In last week’s clashes that started on
Wednesday, most of the destruction were registered in Aruwe and Lodre villages
in Tara sub-county in Maracha district.
By Saturday, youths on both sides mobilized
themselves with panga knives, spears, bows and arrows ready to protect their
interest.
But speaking during the meeting, Barugahare
ordered his men in uniform to shoot to kill any civilian seen carrying the said
dangerous weapons.
“We have learnt through the photos I managed to
see that there were people carrying deadly weapons, those ones include; arrows,
machetes and bows. Those are very deadly weapons and any police officer who
meets someone carrying a deadly weapon, the only position is that you should
shoot to kill,” Barugahare ordered.
He noted that anybody carrying a deadly weapon
is not any different from the one who has a gun.
“So in future, I’m warning you people to avoid
using such tools anywhere. You keep them in your home and when you are attacked
by robbers, then you can use them. But coming to commit mob action with deadly
weapons, the police, I think I must praise them because they could have killed
all those people, you are very lucky!” Barugahare stated.
He said the locals shouldn’t bother to carry
those weapons anymore.
Barugahare, however, said the perpetrators of
the conflict will be investigated and arrested as demanded by a section of
leaders.
James Acidri, the Maracha East county MP and
James Baba, the Koboko county MP who called for the meeting to find solutions
to the long-time border dispute had requested the RPC to investigate the matter
and apprehend the people who looted animals and destroyed property during the
fight.
They also demanded that police officers who
watched on as locals caused havoc be investigated and later disciplined by the
force, a request Barugahare heeded to.
The meeting chaired by Mr Fred Bada, the
Director of Nile Peace Initiative was also attended by Rose Atima Ayaka, the
Maracha district woman MP, Margaret Baba Diri, the Koboko district woman MP,
the two district chairpersons, sub-county chairpersons, police, elders,
religious leaders and hundreds of the aggrieved locals.
It was later resolved that the MPs should petition the office of the minister of Lands for the colonial map which will in turn be used to demarcate the original boundary between Koboko and Maracha district. - Redpepper
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