One of the trucks carrying bags of charcoal destined for Central Uganda parked in Amuru after they were intercepted on Monday on the orders of Michael Lakony, the Amuru District LCV Chairperson
Members of Parliament (MPs) from Amuru district have described Hajj Abdu Nadduli, the Minister without Portfolio as a ”tribalistic” politician whose objective is to incite other tribes especially from the central region against Acholi people.
The accusation stems from a comment made by Minister Hajj Nadduli, while meeting charcoal dealers in Luwero district in early July this year.
The Luwero meeting followed violence which erupted in June after Brian Oola, 19, a boda boda rider and a resident of Pabbo in Amuru district reportedly disappeared mysteriously after he was alleged to have been hired by unidentified men who were believed to be charcoal dealers from central Uganda operating in Amuru.
The alleged disappearance Oola sparked retaliatory attacks leading to the death of two charcoal dealers and injury of at least 32 others.
After the incident, Minister Nadduli accused leaders from Acholi sub region of being tribalistic.
However Gilbert Olanya, the Kilak South MP says Minister Nadduli’s remark was aimed at tarnishing the image of leaders from Acholi sub region as individuals who are not only violent but with tribalistic characters as well.
Addressing the residents of Toro parish in Amuru Sub County on Monday, MP Olanya accused Nadduli of using intimidating languages so as to silence leaders from Acholi from protesting against indiscriminate destruction of forests in the area.
Olanya said he will continue to campaign against the destruction of the environment.
His Kilak North counterpart, Anthony Akol, also accused Nadduli of being insensitive in his choice of words while addressing issues of national importance.
MP Akol noted that with the rate at which forests are being destroyed in Acholi, leaders cannot keep quiet about it.
Akol asked charcoal dealers to follow the law which he says is clearly spelt out in the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003.
The legislator explained that one of the conditions is that the charcoal dealers should acquire licenses for such businesses, if not, then it becomes illegal.
Meanwhile, Lucy Akello, the Amuru District Woman MP faulted Nadduli for protecting individuals who are engaged in charcoal business.
Akello explained after she brought the matter on the floor of parliament last week, Nadduli failed to rise up and support the motion despite raising storm about the same issue.
It was Nadduli who called for the meeting that was to be held on July 25, and July 26 with Amuru leaders in Amuru district.
But he failed to show up after scheduling the Monday and Tuesday meetings with the district technical staff and political leaders.
According to Michael Lakony, Amuru District LCV Charperson, Nadduli informed him through a phone call on Sunday that he (Nadduli) will not be able to attend the two meetings since he is away at Kyankwanzi for the cabinet retreat set for this week.
A recent report by the national forestry authority (NFA) noted that at least 30% of 21 thousand square kilometers of forest cover in Amuru district has been destroyed in the last four years. The report warns that within 15 to 20 years, the district will turn into a desert if deforestation is not controlled.