President Museveni has constituted a committee of 10 people aimed at scrutinizing his proposal that is aimed at restoring peace in Apaa land wrangles.
The committee will be headed by the Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda with five members from each tribe to study the President’s proposal and return with a conclusion after three weeks.
The decision proceeds an intense land clashes in the area raging between the Madi and the Acholi after demarcation of contested land boundary between Amuru and Adjumani, forcing over 200 residents out of their homes into the United Nations offices in Gulu.
The proposals includes the relocation of people to somewhere else in Acholi land fully, compensated and supported by government, Allowing the people of Apaa to stay in the contested areas but not expand anymore and Getting another portion of land near populated area and resettle away from the forest.
Addressing people Museveni apologized for that suffering caused by their leaders bashing them as specialists in telling lies. He vowed that his government will support and stand with the people who told the truth, families of the victims of violence and the injured,”
In 2002, Parliament decided to demarcate 827sqkm of the East Madi controlled hunting area into a park reserve meaning no human settlement and no hunting at all. Museveni revealed to them that game Parks bring in more money US$1500m than coffee US$500m.
Museveni said after colonialists, the then government led by Prime Minister Dr Milton Obote, Felix Onama, Eric Lakidi, Gino Obonyo, Alex Latim etc sat in parliament and decided that 1702sq KMs be demarcated as East Madi Controlled Hunting area. This meant no human settlement and you could only hunt with a license from government.
“Even where there were human settlements like in Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Namugongo Martyrs Shrine which was the execution centre for the Kabaka of Buganda decisions were made even by decree to remove people,” he explained.