Villages split as Uganda, DR Congo define borders
Mr John Lutaaya
ARUA. Villages in Uganda and DR Congo have been split with the demarcation of border points that have in the past seen clashes and closure of posts.
The demarcation comes at the back of numerous incidences where people from Uganda and DR Congo have claimed to own a section of the no man’s land at Ofoo.
Last Tuesday, the survey teams from Uganda and DR Cong inspected the newly marked borders in Arua and Vurra splitting villages as some were found to either be part of Uganda or DR Congo.
Ms Grace Candiru of Ombavu village in Logiri Sub-county told Daily Monitor that “I would not want to be part of [DR] Congo because I have all my relatives here and children are schooling here [Uganda].”
Her village was found to be part of DR Congo.
She said besides the lack of social amenities on the DR Congo side, she is a registered voter in Uganda and changing her citizenship would not make sense to her.
Bitoki village in Ozoo parish was also found to be part of DR Congo.
The district councilor for Logiri Sub-county, Mr Boniface Alioni, said: “It is unfortunate that some of our people have been cut off. The two governments should work out modalities of having these people catered for,” he said.
The principal head of surveyors from Uganda, Mr John Lutaaya, said the remarked borderlines would have buffer zones for easy control by the two countries.
“We urge the affected people to be calm and we shall continue with sensitisation of the communities to continue living normal life. This remarking should not separate people,” he said.
A DR Congo government representative, Prof Celeston Nzila, said the demarcation seeks to bring peace between the two countries.
The two governments have earmarked $200,000 (about Shs700m) for the exercise with each country contributing a total of $100,000.
