Five arrested over arson attack in Apaa township

Apaa, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Five suspects are in custody at Adjumani police station in connection to the recent arson attack in Apaa township bordering Adjumani and Amuru districts. Stephen Odong Latek, the Amuru Resident District Commissioner says that the suspects were picked up in a security crackdown in the area following the attack.

He disclosed this at a media briefing at the offices of the Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) in Gulu city on Thursday alongside legislators from the Acholi Parliamentary Group (APG). Latek revealed that the commandant of the UPDF 71 Battalion has pitched camp in Apaa for quick response to security emergencies.

Commenting about the late response to the attacks, Latek said that the attack was carried out in a hard to reach area, which couldn’t be accessed easily by security. He asked all leaders from Acholi sub-region to stop blaming the Madi community of Adjumani district for the attack but rather address the matter of human rights.

An unknown group between Friday last week and Tuesday this week raided and set ablaze more than 210 grass-thatched huts, injured dozens, looted household properties, and displaced hundreds from the area.

Polly Phillip Okin Ojara, the former chairperson of Acholi Parliamentary Group (APG) tasked the government to ensure maximum security deployment in the area to stop rights violations and attacks and recognize Apaa as a human settlement area.

Amos Okot, the Agago County MP described the crisis in Apaa as a matter of impunity that everyone needs to condemn. Kilak South Member of Parliament Gilbert Olanya, said that the matter of Apaa has been tabled before parliament more than thirty times and ten times before President Yoweri Museveni yet there is no solution ten years later.

Anthony Akol, the Chairperson of the Acholi Parliamentary Group accused the government of failing to protect the people of Apaa.

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