Several injured as police clash with Napak border protesters

Napak- Police on Saturday arrested six people who were protesting the recent demarcation of the Napak-Katakwi border.

Mr Richard Aruk Maruk the Mt. Moroto Regional Police Commander confirmed the arrest saying those who have been arrested will be charged with inciting violence.

“We didn’t give them permission to carry on with their protest. As police, we shall not allow that and whoever will try to destabilise the peace that the people of Karamoja are enjoying will be arrested,” he said.

The protests were started after government on Wednesday last week opened up demarcations and declared Alekilek area which was known to be under Napak under Katakwi.

Several people including one police officer were seriously injured during running battles and are receiving treatment at Matany Hospital.

Residents are want government to work with elders who know the issues of the border rather than politicians. 

“We shall protest until our land is given back to us. We gave out our guns to government but we are not ready to give them our land," John Nagiro, one of the protesters said.

Mr Patrick Moru, another resident in Alekilek expressed concern that authorities in Katakwi are likely to drive them out of their land since the demarcation shows that they are now under Katakwi District.

“We shall die here and our bodies will be buried here because we have nowhere to go,” he said.

Barely two years ago, a border dispute erupted between Katakwi and Napak districts but the problem was resolved after  President Musevenis met leaders of the two neighboring districts although what they discussed remains undisclosed.

Mr Andrew Loucho, the mayor of Lorengechora Town Council, said they will not respect the boundary adding that they will go to court.

Mr Joseph Lomonyang, the Napak District chairman said his district will not respect the boundaries saying the whole exercise was based on the directives of the minister of local government.

“If the people fight and kill (each other), the minister of Local government Mr Tom Butime will also be blamed because it seems he had his own agenda,” he said.

According to Mr Lomonyang, the minister could not allow any district official from Napak to give any clarification relating to the border when they had a meeting.

Mr Lomonyang said some people in government don’t appreciate the current peace that the people of Teso and Karamoja enjoy.

He said they don't trust the 1962 map which was being used saying it has been altered. He says that the original map of 1958 should be used. 

"When you look at the map of 1958 it clearly indicates that Alekilek was under Napak. But the late Cuthbert Obwango who was a minister during Dr Obote's regime, altered that map in 1964.