By Bonny Odongo

The people of Lango were thrown into panic by the July 19 incident in which a Juba-based businesswoman Dorcus Achola was brutally murdered in a manner that most people thought could only be executed by none other than the barbaric rebels of the LRA.

Lira RDC Joan Pacoto (In Blue track suit) views the body of Dorcus Achola who was killed by unknown assailants in Senior Quarters near the military barracks on Saturday July18. (Photo by Bonny Odongo)

Achola, 21, never knew that a visit to her homeland loaded with the little dimes she had made from her business trip in the Southern Sudan capital Juba would turn into a big drum that would sound and bring that kind of crowd.

Residents of senior quarters, central division in Lira municipality were astonished after Achola was found lying dead in a pool of blood, beheaded by some unknown killers who were alleged to have been hired by her close friend Catherine Achiro so she could get away with sh 8.6 of the deceased’s money which was in her custody.

Achola, a mother of one and a former student of Agape Girls Secondary School, requested her parents in 2007 to allow her pack her belongings and shift to Lira town to begin a new life, especially doing businesses.

From mere scratches Achola’s business picked up very well and this gave her the courage to start commuting to Juba, trading in items like Soda, Beer, maize flour and other minor things; a decision which later turned her into millionaire that could be a target of buglers.

On the fateful week, the ill fated Achola had returned from Juba on July 16. Her intention was to go the next day and visit her parents Emmanuel Amute and Florence Amute who live in Aduku Sub County, Apac district.

Contrary to her schedule, Catherine Achiro advised her to postpone her trip to the village by a day so she could get for her free transport, an advice she heeded to. Unfortunately plan to end her life was on high gear, a plan that brutally brought her life to a sudden end.

Commenting on the murder, Issac Engola a brother to the deceased said the government should ensure quick dispensation of justice to the bereaved family.

He added that his sister was killed at a time when she was economically very productive and the government should do all that it take to ensure that every one responsible for the brutal and inhumane act are brought to book.

How was she killed?

Dorcus Achola on July 18 at night went for outing with Catherine Achiro but on their way back, some unknown panga wielding men stormed them.

According to neighbours, at around 12 am when these ladies were waylaid, there was a serious scuffle but alleged betrayer Catherine managed to escape leaving her in the hands of her killers.

Catherine quietly ran without making any alarm despite the fact that her close friend was struggling and screaming for help.

The Lira DPC Raymond Otim told this reporter that Catherine Achiro conspired with her brother Patrick Lumumba and hired the service of Pte. Charles Onama, Pte. Mbusa Philemon and LDU Omara Tom at a fee of sh 2m to kill the lady so they could take the money she came with from Juba.

NABBED: Part of the seven suspects who were nabbed for murdering Dorcus Achola at the Senior Quarters in Lira. From left to right Achiro Catherine, Sgt Tom Omara, Onama Charles and Mbusa. (Photo by Bonny Odongo)

Others are Auma Maurine and one Ayuk Sarah Harriet a Dinka by tribe who is said to have played a witch doctor’s role. But briefly eight suspects were apprehended and remanded over this incident.

“All these people participated in the killing of this enterprising lady with intent to take her money which was in her friend Achiro’s custody,” says the DPC. “We want to have these people committed for the high court so as to speed their trials,” he added.

Seven suspects remanded

Seven suspects including an LDU and two UPDF soldiers linked to this murder were charged and remanded up to August 5^th before Lira chief magistrate Gabriel Nyipir (court number 164/8). But a number of villagers who congregated around the court building wanted to take the law in their hands and lynch them to death.

The 5^th Division spokesperson, Captain Deo Akiiki following the murder of six people in Kitgum district by LDU Kenneth Opwonya recently warned that, “As an institution which is suppose to maintain peace in the country, the UPDF will not allow elements within its ranks to be a cause of insecurity to the people.”

The seven suspects brings to fourteen the number of those remanded at the central prison because of the grisly murders that has taken place in different places in Lango sub-region within just a period of one month.

Four murdered over land related conflicts.

Other four murdered over land related conflicts in Amac, Apala, and Adwari and Abako sub-counties. Luciano Otim, Adit Terociana, Milton Okello and Tonny Okodi a businessman who was murdered in Otwal sub county by unidentified robbers.

The community liaison officer at Lira CPS, Jodaga Gemonamola said many of these people were killed by their close relatives on matters regarding land disputes among people who have returned home after living in camps for twenty years.

Lira RDC, Joan Pacoto also district security committee chairperson said she would convene an emergency security meeting but at the same time urged the community to be conscious of their personal security.

“Be a guard to your own security and be conscious of your neighbours, friends and the boda you use,” Pacoto said.

To reduce the land conflicts, the Won nyaci of Lango Yosam Odur once advised the people going back to their villages to consider planting trees on their land boundaries.

But the people seem to have forgotten of their land boundaries especially after the twenty year long stay in the internally displaced persons camps.

If the land issue is not properly handled and some of the bad hearted LRA massacre survivors continued to grab land from widows, sons and daughters of their fallen neighbours, there would still be cases of night time murders similar to those we have witnessed.

By Rolex Akena

People of Northern Uganda are still ignorant about a new government initiated project on Peace, Recovery and Development Program-PRDP. The project’s major aim is to empower and rebuild northern Uganda devastated by the 20-year old LRA war.

According to a survey carried out by Free Voice in camps and villages in the regions, 80 % of the people are not knowledgeable about the project and 15% have heard of it over radios but do not know how it will work, while 5% have read it in the news papers.

The research was conducted in the sub counties of Patiko, Pabongo, and Onyama for Gulu district.

Free Voice is a Dutch-supported organization which supports media activities some African countries.

In Lira it was conducted in the sub counties of Ogur, Okwang, and Olilim. In Pader, it was Patongo Omot and Pajule sub counties.

Steven Opoka of Patiko said he did not hear of the project but in his views, PRDP should dish out money door to door while other responsibilities remain in the hands of government, citing construction of hospitals, schools, roads, and clean water.

To back up his money distribution strategy, Opoka argues that PRDP project is intended to help in poverty eradication amongst the people of the region so there is need to hand out money to individuals.

Wokorach Beatrice of Onyama in Gulu said she has never heard of the program but if her views could be considered, she would advise government to construct schools, Hospitals, good roads and clean water.

In Lira Opio Peter of Ogur said there is need for the government to give out farm inputs to the people who are now returning to their villages to enable them start new life.

David Ocen reserved his comments saying the project may not take off because government has not been fulfilling her pledges to the people of northern Uganda and above all government projects move slowly so he can not give out his views.

However, the Lira district LC V chairperson Franco Ojur says the district will consider rural electrification where there had been power before the war, tarmaking roads in the municipality, constructing bridges, beside other small initiatives.

Meanwhile Gulu District Chairperson Norbert Mao says his district has a comprehensive plan for the entire Acholi sub region about PRDP.

Mao advises government to grant special consideration to the sub regions which suffered most during LRA war citing Acholi, Lango and Teso compare to other district that have been included in the PRDP implementation.

But the minister in charge of northern Uganda David Wakikona says PRDP implementation will depend on bottom to top approach to enable close linkage among stakeholders from village up to central government level.

Concerning the sensitization of the local people he blames the local government for failing to collect the views of their people to be considered in the PRDP documents.

Dont miss next update on PRDP!