Dear All, In deed this is a serious matter as alluded to by many. I can see why municipal council is not saying a word while all this is happening in their eyes. The orders from above must have ordered them to keep quite, least jobs will lost or heads will roll. My interest and thus the issue at stake here is the environmental benefits and secondly the interest and hope for the local populace to acquire and develop this land if at all it was to be degazzetted.
For those who did not know or doubted what some of us show and said about the bigger agenda of this government on West Nile, it is high time you changed your thinking and appreciate the reality. This government is not interested in the welbeing and propersity of the people of West Nile. For it to achieve that, it recruits the sons and daughters of West Nile to execute the crucifiction plans of the people of West Nile. Abiriga is such a recruit. If you can remember, there was an infux of the balalo into Madi Okollo, Ullepi and rhinocamp before the oil exploration in the nile belt was commenced. When the ordinary people and refugees settled in the nile belt complained, no body heard them. I personally witnessed UPDF used to transport cattle in trucks at night in Madi Okollo area and by the next morming, hundreds of thousands of herds of cattle were already in, fully guarded by the army. Abiriga aided the grabbing of the so called 'officers quarters' in Anyafio by the UPDF from Arua district local government. Soon they will move to grab Giligili and the golf course. The execution of these plans and many more to come explain why he was not transfered during the recent reshuffle. To aid him to further execute the clandestine plans, another character similar to him was appointed as his deputy, called Ajiga and Ringakech, who seemed reasonable transfered elsewhere. Abiriga, shortsighted and dwarfed as he is, only implements orders from above. That is why some of us think, it is not a good idea to partner with this government. John Agame, in his pursuit of the lado state, wrote in one of his articles that the British government recruited sons of the lado land (Iddi Amin, Joseph Lagu et al) to fight the pursuit of lado state. The Acholi have managed to protect their land because of the candid, robust and nonsensical position the political and cultural leadership have taken. So long as we continue having leaders who think they are for the government, not the people, we are finished. I am not surprised if Salim Saleh is behind this. During the presidential campaigns in 2001, Salim Saleh pitched camp right opposite the land in question for about 4 weeks. He took over the tiled house, next to Mzee Dranimva and directly opposite the land in question. I am tempted to think this was an opportunity for him to study this land at close range and hatched the destructive plans. There is the so called middle class in Uganda today (majorly from Western Uganda) that have developed high affinity for land that they want to all land on earth. And this is one of the main preoccupation of this government as championed by Museveni; to create a skewed middle class that will have the money to be able to control future governments. If Alaka can take lead and the rest of us support him for a legal battle, that will be the greatest gift WNF would have given to the people of West Nile. Alaka and your learned friends, do you think this is something you want to do? I guess there are personal risks you might want to weigh. Doing something may have risks, not doing anything seems to have bigger risks. Ismail -------------------------------- ________________________________ From: Vasco Oguzua <[email protected]> To: A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile <[email protected]> Sent: Fri, 17 December, 2010 20:26:12 Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [WestNileNet] {Disarmed} Re: {Disarmed} Re: {Disarmed} Re: Barifa Land Grabbed Dear Brothers and Sisters, Reading from what Mr. Adrale has presented graphically from what is happening in the Barifa Forest, I think there has to a swift movement to legal action. A week has almost passed since this issue was brought to the attention of WNF forum, and it appears more trees are being felled, moreover, this started way before this issue was brought on the Forum. Procastination in taking action is like fighting while running away from the enemy. Ringtho just provided an example of what happened in Usi Forest in Warr, the Arua Airport barren lands is another example of land wasting. We need that greenery in Barifa to protect the town from environmental calamities. The logic of satellite town in Arua beats my understanding. What created the need for a satellite town in Arua? and when was the decision to build a satellite town in Arua without any regard for the already existing town made and by whom?. It appears to me Abiriga's responsibility in Arua is to destroy the resources of Arua, rather than protect the resources of Arua. Do we allow our own brother to indulge into such a damage without challenging him? Why should work done in good faith be guarded by military personnel? Does this not clearly show that there is something very wrong and sinister against the people of West Nile by the so called people above. Is this not a way of showing or exposing the people of West Nile that we are stupid and we can be treated in the most despicable manner and our land can be taken by foreigners while we are watching without doing anything? People we must not allow ourselves to be enslaved by people who think they have money and our lives can be bought with money. Where are the journalists in West Nile and politicians who should come out and condemn this land grabbing. I do not see any story of this issue on any papers and it is well over weeks now. Why is West Nile so docile when it comes to grabbing their resources? Are we cursed that land grabbing is occurring infront of our eyes and the people can not rise up and defend their property. Is that what poverty has reduced us to, to be abused and tramped upon without saying anything? Can we at least not learn from our brothers and sister from Acholi who probably suffered in the camps more than us and yet had the courage and honour to resist land grabbing in their area. Where are our politicians and religious leaders in this issue?. The local population needs to be mobilized for a protest about this land grabbing or else we shall be beggars in our own region or house. This is very insulting and should not be tolerated. The legal fraternity needs to act quickly to bring all involved including Abiriga to book. If the government belongs to the people why should Abiriga intimidate local people with military personnel.This is human rights issue as well. Please the legal fraternity needs to act rather than wait as the forest may be fast disappearing. On Fri, Dec 17, 2010 at 9:51 AM, aggrey adrale <[email protected]> wrote: Mickson, > >This is not a rumour anymore. I have a residence sharing borders with the >forest. Indeed prisoners are seen under the watchfull eyes of the Arua RDC, >Ibrahim Abiriga, clearing the block of trees starting from the fireline >directly >opposite Mzee Dranimva's Home, proceeding towards the next fireline running >inside the forest parallel to Oluko road and connecting to the fireline behind >Oasis Inn. All the trees surrounding the abandoned house near former CARE >office >are being cleared. When asked, Mr. Abiriga says it is orders from above (I've >been reliably informed that Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho is behind this scheme). My >Wife even inquired from the NFA Resident Range Manager who says he has not >received any orders from anywhere apart from Mr. Abiriga's militarily guarded >operations clearing that block of the forest. Of course Arua Municipal Council >as an interested party in the land should come up to inform the public on what >is going on. > >That Barifa has been sold to Salim Saleh, et al, to construct modern satellite >town has been a rumour running for more than five years now and I think the >truth is now unfolding. Our concern however is that Arua Municipal Council may >have already lost money to NFA by way of compensating the latter with land at >Kaza, in Logiri and further to that is likelihood of local stakeholders losing >out on their interests in the now contested land. > >Is that a rumour anymore? > >Aggrey Adrale > > >--- On Fri, 17/12/10, Mickson Abati <[email protected]> wrote: > > >>From: Mickson Abati <[email protected]> >> >>Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [WestNileNet] {Disarmed} Re: Barifa Land Grabbed >> >>To: "A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile" <[email protected]> >>Date: Friday, 17 December, 2010, 14:54 >> >> >> >>Dear All >> >>This sounds as roumers, for if it was true that Barifa is being grabed >>without >>the concent of the Municipal Authorities Our dear Town Clark would have >>issued a >>statement to conter these numerous out busts. For me as of now i dismiss the >>above refference as roumers. I pray that this time the GoodLord will >>Intervene >>to defend the voiceless and punish the parpetrators who want to take away our >>only becon of hope. >> >>Long live WNF >> >>Enjoaye. >> >> >>--- On Fri, 17/12/10, aggrey adrale <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >>>From: aggrey adrale <[email protected]> >>>Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [WestNileNet] Barifa Land Grabbed >>>To: "A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile" <[email protected]> >>>Date: Friday, 17 December, 2010, 9:41 >>> >>> >>>Hi Caleb, >>> >>>Thanks for this information and guidance on what to do. For me the >>>resolution is >>>long drawn that we cannot allow people to interfere with the >>>acquisition process >>>that was already on-going. >>> >>>What is the take of Arua Municipal Council on this? >>> >>>For me as a member of WNF I suggest we immediately give instructions to our >>>lawyers to seek court injunction to immediately cutail the recent >>>developments >>>and compensation to the relevant authorities for the damage already done. >>>Perhaps we could also look at the option of suing some people like Ibrahim >>>Abiriga et al, who are physically overseeing the land grabbing and clearing >>>process at Barifa Central Forest Reserve. >>> >>>That's my take >>> >>>--- On Tue, 14/12/10, Caleb Alaka <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> >>>>From: Caleb Alaka <[email protected]> >>>>Subject: [WestNileNet] Barifa Land Grabbed >>>>To: "A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile" <[email protected]> >>>>Date: Tuesday, 14 December, 2010, 14:34 >>>> >>>> >>>>As you are all aware, Barifa forest is one of the Central Government Forest >>>>reserves. Some two or so years ago, Arua Municipal Council attempted to >>>>expand >>>>and extend its boundaries for a better planned Town. The Municipal then >>>>applied >>>>to the National Forest Authority to have Barifa de-gazetted. NFA accepted >>>>on >>>>condition that the Municipal Council got an alternative land for the >>>>forest. >>>>Municipal then got land worth 100 Million Shillings in Logiri and it has >>>>been >>>>paying for the land. I understand the Municipal Council intended to re-plan >>>>Barifa into a new Arua Town. Now some people have emerged from nowhere >>>>claiming >>>>that they are acting "on orders from above" and they have been clearing >>>>Barifa >>>>forest. The RDC Arua is the one purportedly supervising these people who >>>>have >>>>moved several trucks on the land. For us to act as WNF, we need a >>>>resolution and >>>>or a consent of the members so that we instruct our lawyers to file a suit >>>>stopping these guys from constructing any thing on the land and evicting >>>>them. >>>>If this situation is not arrested, Arua Municipal Council will loose the >>>>100 >>>>Million shillings, we shall not have a better planned town and we shall in >>>>the >>>>words of the Bishop be worthless. What is your take on this >>>> >>>> >>>>-----Inline Attachment Follows----- >>>> >>>> >>>>_______________________________________________ >>>>WestNileNet mailing list >>>>MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from >>>>"uk.mc297.mail.yahoo.com" >>>>claiming to be MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from >>>>"uk.mc297.mail.yahoo.com" claiming to be MailScanner has detected a >>>>possible >>>>fraud attempt from "uk.mc297.mail.yahoo.com" claiming to be MailScanner has >>>>detected a possible fraud attempt from "uk.mc297.mail.yahoo.com" claiming >>>>to be >>>>[email protected] >>>>http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet >>>> >>>>WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >>>> >>>>All Archives can be found at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>> >>>>The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >>>>attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. >>>>_______________________________________________ >>>> >>> >>>-- >>>This message has been scanned for viruses and >>>dangerous content by MailScanner, and is >>>believed to be clean. >>>-----Inline Attachment Follows----- >>> >>> >>>_______________________________________________ >>>WestNileNet mailing list >>>[email protected] >>>http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet >>> >>>WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >>> >>>All Archives can be found at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>> >>>The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >>>attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. >>>_______________________________________________ >>> >> >>-- >>This message has been scanned for viruses and >>dangerous content by MailScanner, and is >>believed to be clean. >>-----Inline Attachment Follows----- >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>WestNileNet mailing list >>MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from >>"uk.mc297.mail.yahoo.com" >>claiming to be MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from >>"uk.mc297.mail.yahoo.com" claiming to be [email protected] >>http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet >> >>WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >> >>All Archives can be found at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> >>The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >>attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. >>_______________________________________________ >> > > >-- >This message has been scanned for viruses and >dangerous content by MailScanner, and is >believed to be clean. >_______________________________________________ >WestNileNet mailing list >[email protected] >http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet > >WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ > >All Archives can be found at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > >The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. >_______________________________________________ > > -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.
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