Two Oyam medical officers suspended over theft

By Ronald Odongo

Oyam, April 14, 2008: The Oyam District Health Authorities have suspended more than 2 suspected health officers on the allegation of drug theft and swindling of about 2.4million shillings for the implementation of the primary health care in the district.

District director of health services, Dr. Vincent Owiny says the suspension stem from the request by the local leaders and the community following the gross drug theft and the poor implementation of the primary health care activities by the accused officers.

Owiny say some are being investigated on the allegation of misusing ambulances attached to their respective health centres.

He added that both Heads of Agulurude and Otwal health centres' three have been warned on several occasions before they were suspended.

Last week the Oyam district LC5 chairperson Rtd Col. Okello Engola threatened to arrest some health centre Heads who would be implicated in the drug theft and misuse of the ambulances.

Okello Engola says some indisciplined medical officers will soon be dismissed, adding that most of them are involved in the mismanagement of the primary health care funds. He urged the medical officers to work according their ethics and public service work regulations.

Dr. Owiny also accused three medical officers attached to different health centres in the district of defaming him over the local media houses within the sub region.  

The suspended officers would be reinstated after through investigation according to the District Health Authorities.

5 Loro organic workers arrested

By Ronald Odongo

Oyam, April 11, 2008: Police in Oyam district are holding about five organic workers attached to Loro Sub County for allegedly inciting people to resist the spraying of DDT in their individual houses.

Lawrence Odur 32, Salvatori Omara 36 all residents of Acan Pii parish in Loro Sub County were intercepted on Wednesday night by the security operatives who were deployed to crackdown anti DDT spray gangs in the district. Some organic staff are reported to be on the run due to fear of the police arrest, according to the district chief.

Colonel Charles Okello Engola the Oyam LC5 district chairperson says some people are going around deliberately mobilising local people against the spraying of the DDT insecticide in the district.

DDT spray is being piloted in the districts of Apac and Oyam to reduce mosquitoes. It was launched recently by the minister of Health Dr. Steven Malinga.

Engola says police are hunting for about three organic workers attached to Loro Sub County all accused of inciting people local people to wage war on the DDT spray team in the area. He says the exercise would help reduce malarial infections.

The spraying of DDT started last Friday in Oyam district. More than 3000 houses have been sprayed in the five sub counties of Minakulu, Loro, Aber, Achaba and Iceme.

Section of the district councilors are resisting the exercise claiming it has side effects that is very harmful to human life however they are not very specific on the side effect of the DDT drug.

However there is high resistance among some district councilors, LC5 Chairperson Col. Okello Engola has vowed to spray all the houses in the district.

Walter Omara an organic specialist argued that organic faming system has large coverage in Loro Sub County saying that the Oyam district leaders should carry massive sensitizations.

He added that local people are resisting the use of  DDT themselves, contrary to what the district chairman has said. 

The district leaders warned that police shall continue arresting some people who have launched business of decampaigning the exercise. Oyam district chief Colonel Engola urged Organic specialists to support the DDT spray in the district that the bid to reduce malarial infection in the district

UNICEF gives Oyam 97 million shillings

By Denis Olaka Oper

Oyam, April 10, 2008: UNICEF has donated 97 million shillings and 10 motorcycles to Oyam district local government to facilitate its activities. The district community development officer, Chris Gira says the donations were handed over to the district yesterday.

He said of the money, 68 Million shillings is bonus to the district upon its excellent utilization of the UNICEF fund in the region. Gira said Oyam was best in its accountability of the funds UNICEF gave to the districts of northern Uganda.

He said the bonus fund will be use to improve the education standard in the district while the 29 million shillings will be spent on children and HIV/Aids programs in the district.

Gira also said 7 of the motorcycles were given to the assistant community development officers in the sub counties of Oyam district while the other three were given to the water, Sanitation and hygiene.

UNICEF education specialist from Lira zonal Office handed over the donations at the district headquarters.

Adea bounces back to UPC

By Phillips Ogile

Oyam, April 10, 2008: FORMER aspirant for Oyam south Poll Nelson Adea to replace the late Yefusa Okullo Epark who lost to Issa Otoo Amiza has now become an enemy to the independent Members of parliament in Lango because of his decision to return to UPC.

Nelson Adea (in red t-shirt) was hijack by Independents when he contested in UPC primary elections and went through, but when he was called to sign the party book and also offer poster with his picture designed with party logo he let the party down. He was hijacked by some members of parliament led by Cicilla Ogwal woman member of parliament.

“My children are not going to school, you are eating well in your respective homes who will help me? You are bad people. I wish I knew I couldn’t have refused your misleading idea,” said Adea.

Adea was number eleven in signing to remove Tonny Ogwang Adwari the vice chairman,  an independent,   from his position as the vice chairman in the latter that was seen by our correspondent. He also refused to attend the FDC party rally that took place in Dokolo district last week.  

Aaccording to our local sources Adea said he wanted to contest in Oyam District by year 2011 to replace the seat of Retired Col Charles Okello Engola under UPC ticket and is preparing a big function to apologize to UPC official.

Lango spokesperson for UPC Micheal Ogwal Achonga told Lango Web that unless Adea apologises to party leaders, they will reconsider him as a party member.

DDT Indoor spraying launched in Uganda

By Omara Geoffrey and Phillips Ogile

Oyam, April 12, 2008: THE comprehensive Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) of DDT against malaria in Uganda was launched on Friday April 11, 2008 in Oyam district by the Health Minister Dr Stephen Malinga.  The function was attended by Ministry of health’s Director of Health Serices, Dr. Keyya Mugisha, WHO representative,  Dr Charles Katureebe, MPs Beatrice Lagada, Isa Otto, Angiro Gutmoi, Ben Wacha, local leaders from Apac and Oyam districts.

Presiding over the launch at Oyam Boma Ground Health Minister Dr Stephen Malinga  warned  western and local environmentalists to stop misleading the public about DDT. He called upon for the community to support the program because it will help in prevention of Malaria. He added that the programme that has started in Oyam will cover 15 districts across the country.

Dr Malinga said that development partners were ready to support the country scale up all malaria interventions in order to eradicate the disease in the next 10 to 15 years. “Now we have the opportunity to use DDT together with nets and medicines to get rid of malaria and thereafter we shall no longer need DDT,” he noted

Malinga said that malaria poses one of the greatest threats to human life in Uganda and the developing world in general. “Malaria is more than an ordinary disease. It has big implications on all essential aspects of our lives, both as individuals, family and community, a nation and even as a continent,” Malinga said.

He said that the burden of malaria has for decades caused unnecessary death, especially among pregnant women and children. He said that Ugandan children suffer from repeated fevers, anemia, brain damage and ill health as a result of chronic exposure to malaria parasites.

“If the child survives the infection, it may still affect the child’s ability to grow well or even learn well in school,” the minister explained. He added that of the estimated one million malaria deaths worldwide, 90% occur in Africa, killing mostly young children at the rate of 3000 per day.

Malinga said that Uganda carries the highest transmission rate for malaria globally. He said that Oyam and Apac experience the highest malaria attacks of 1600 inoculation bites per person per year. “This means at least4 infectious bites per night per person…one may not therefore escape malaria infection when in the two districts,” the minister said.

“Clearly these children suffer a most extraordinary way yet malaria is preventable, curable and even eradicable. The picture is not acceptable, all efforts must be put in place to reverse the situation,” Malinga asserts.

Malinga says that Indoor Residual Spraying of households with long lasting insecticides and insecticide treated bed nets are some of the control measures to prevent malaria attacks.

He said that success in using DDT to eradicate malaria in the past and to control malaria in some countries in East and Southern Africa at present spurred government to consider introducing the chemical for malaria control.

Dr Malinga demonstrated that DDT is safe by spraying three houses in the district himself.  “For DDT to affect human health the person must consume about 50% of it”, he said and asked everybody not to be scared of the program.

He urged political and civil society leaderships to join hands for the program to succeed. He said that the European Commission has acknowledged Uganda’s right to use DDT, although its consumers and agricultural groups continue to tell lies about the chemical.

The minister asked environmental leaders and chemical personnel to join the 21^st century, acknowledge the past mistakes made, and balance the hypothetical risks of DDT with the very real consequences of malaria.

 The Health minister warned that the ministry officers working together with all stakeholders and the commercial sector must ensure support from ‘our communities and ensure our agricultural trade is not jeopardized.”

“Our local farmers must be educated on the proper storage of their produce. The commercial sector should support local farmers to store their produce safely,” Malinga advises.

“On behalf of the government of Uganda, I wish to appreciate president Bush and the people of USA for the Presidential Malaria Initiative which has supported the program,” minister said.

How ever in some places where farmers are growing organic crops site coordinators of Lango Organic Farming Promotion are fighting tooth and nail to make sure that the DDT is not sprayed in the area because of fear that it would prevent the locals from growing organic crops.

The coordinator of Lango Organic Framing Promotions in Lango sub region Laban Okwir told our reporter that the DDT insecticide is very dangerous to the Organic crops and the locals’ community as well because, even in Ghana it was denounce because it destroy the market of Organic crop in the area.

“We shall still contact our extension farmers to make sure that the insecticides are not used in their area since it will affect the market of their crops since their land is very suitable for organic crops”. Okwir Said

The Oyam district Director of health services Dr Vincent Owiny said  the spraying which is done by ITR is going to help in serving money and life as well since malaria will be reduced.

LRA Victims become goat keepers

By Phillips Ogile

Oyam, March 29, 2008: Lango resident who were seriously affected by the Lord Resistance Army war have commenced goat keeping as a way of rebuilding their lives.

The Oyam woman Member of Parliament Beatrice Amongi Lagada with the support from Northern Uganda Development Foundation has started helpings the groups of vulnerable people in the district to start up projects of their choice.

She said she wanted the community who are in the respective groups to priories what thy want so that they are assisted.

“I want my people not to suffer, we want to train them to become self reliant after being in camps for about 20 years. I will lobby for support for them from our brothers and sister who are outside”, Lagada said.

Lagada also said she is looking for ways to reduce illiteracy amongst the youth by introducing computer literacy in the district so that primary kids can learn about new things.

Meanwhile, a UK charity called Northern Uganda Development Foundation, has been helping to improve the lives of people in Oyam district by setting up clean water projects and drillings the new boreholes in many places especially in Aber Sub County.

The coordinator of the project in the district Ogwang Atoli said that many activities are still underway to help the community move out of poverty since the main objective of the organization is to eliminate poverty in northern Uganda. 

LC Chairperson arrested for stealing animals

By Rolex Akena

Oyam, March 29, 2008: A local council one chairperson of Aboloneneo village, Alutkot Parish in Loro Sub county Oyam District is in police custody for allegedly stealing a cow from the late former Oyam South MP’s home.

Charles Onyinge was nabbed on Friday when he was selling the animal at Loro Friday market which is the biggest livestock market in Oyam District.

Onyinge pleaded guilty before Mzee Otim, late Okullu Epak’s brother who nabbed him from the market.

Otim says so far 5 herds of cattle have gone missing from the farm in the recent months and it believed Onyinge is responsible for it.

Also arrested was Epak’s farm manager one Owani Ogwar who is Onyinge’s uncle. It alleged that Owani has been stealing animals from the farm and use his nephew Onyinge as LC1 to recommend these stolen animals for sale.

Epak’s widow Martina Okullu could not believe her farm manager could steal animals from her farm.

UPC blamed for conducting elections at night

By Phillips Ogile

Oyam, March 28, 2008: Members of Uganda People Congress Supporters in Minakulu Sub County in Oyam district have blamed the leaders of UPC for conducting grassroot elections at night. 

UPC leaders last week conducted the grassroot elections in Minakulu to replace some leaders who left the party and became independents in 2006 elections.  This is in preparation for the forthcoming LC1 elections as passed by Parliament.

The interim Chairperson for UPC for Minakulu Sub County Oduka Cox son last week called Unity Fm radio station accusing UPC leaders of conducting elections at night in which he compared the election with 1980’s primary where some people where locked out and elections conducted at night.

The Member of Parliament for Oyam South constituency Ishaa Otoo refutes the allegations.  The UPC spokesperson for Lango sub region Michael Ogwal Achonga while contacted also denied the allegations claiming it is false and defaming to the party since they are looking ways forwards in taking control at grassroot level.

Meanwhile, in Lira District, Erute County, Dan Okello has replaced JP Obonyo as Chairperson.

A schoolboy makes & rides wooden bicycle

                                                
By Phillips Ogile

Oyam, March 27, 2008: APRIMARY seven boy of Ogali Primary School named Adea Bonney of Opat Oyere Village in Awua Parish Minakulu Sub county Oyam district, surprised many people in Lira town when he passed by the street carrying a staff of unity FM Bongo Anol Debuni on a wooden bicycle. 

Adea Bonny aged 17, in an interview with our correspondent said it was an initiative that comes by his mind after footing long distance to school. He said he started with a roller when he was yet in primary five.

A wooden bicycle that he is describes as nickology resemble a real metallic bicycle. Only the wheels and chain are made of metals

Adea said he normally make the wooden bike on weekends especially on Saturday during his free time and in a quiet place.

Adea rode the wooden bike from their home Minakulu about 70 kilometers away from Lira town and he took about 2 hour to reach Lira.

He also carried Bongo Debuni who is 84 kilogram of weight and rode for over 1 kilometer, drawing attention of shoppers, and bringing business in Lira to a standstill.

Adea said he is not an orphan, but his family is very poor. He asked any willing person or an organization to help him so that he can proceed with his education.  He is a primary seven school dropout.

Germany & EU grant 910,000 Euros to the North

By Omara Geoffrey 

Oyam, March 26, 2008: THE German government and the European Union have given a Euro 910,000 (sh2.3b) grant to support the Northern Uganda Rehabilitation Programme in three war-ravaged districts.

The money will be used to assist residents living in the displaced people’s camps, support their return and reintegration into communities and the rehabilitation of infrastructure in Oyam, Amuru and Adjumani districts.

The programme will be implemented over a period of 18 months.

The German Development Service (DED) that has been working in Uganda for the last 40 years was selected as the lead implementing agency to manage the funds in partnership with the respective district authorities.

During the programme launch in Oyam district last week, the state minister for northern Uganda, David Wakikona, said the project was one of the ways the Government was collaborating with development partners to restore normalcy in a region emerging from insecurity.

He added that the Peace Recovery and Development Plan would guide all interventions.

The DED programme coordinator, Adolf Gerstl, said the key areas of expenditure for the funds would include improvement in water supply, sanitation, health, HIV/AIDS, education and the environment to ease the effects of the 20-year civil war.

He cited borehole drilling, protection of natural springs, construction of classroom blocks and VIP latrines at schools, the building of health centers and staff houses and afforestation programmes as part of the projects to be undertaken.

Selected district civil servants, Gerstl added, would be trained in various skills to strengthen their capacity in managing internally displaced persons.

According to him, part of the package would be setting up a more flexible financial scheme that would help the returnees start small businesses.

“The returnees may have good business ideas but the banks may be reserved on lending them money.

“The income-generating component in this project is meant to boost those with good commercial ideas,” Gerstl explained.

The Oyam district chairman, Col. Okello Engola, hailed the Germans and the EU for the “timely intervention since camps were being depopulated at a faster rate.”

He requested that support should now be geared towards assisting the people who had returned home, especially in setting up clean water sources and opening up access roads.

Loro residents to sue MP Issa Otto over land

By Ronald Odongo

Oyam, March 26, 2008: The Oyam south Member of Parliament has clashed with the local people of Loro trading centre who are demanding compensation for their lands used in opening aver a 10km road.

A 10km road was constructed under the instruction of the area Member of Parliament Ishaa Otto earlier this year using constituency development fund.

Ceaser Okino 42 a resident of the trading centre says the intentions to sue stem from several unfulfilled promises from the area Mp.

He added that the road construction affected his land and damaged crops worth over 2 million shillings which ought to be compensation as appreciation by the Mp.

A 49 Alfred Okullu a local resident who is also demanding for compensation accused the area member of parliament for being very arrogant whenever they approached him for compensation.

According to Ceaser Okino, area member of parliament should pay him about 3m shillings as a compensation of his lands.

Mp Ishaa Otto during  a telephone interview  toady’s morning denied of have received any concern demanding for compensation from the locals whose land were affected during the  10km roads opening in Loro trading centre.

He says some people are politicking the demands by the locals claiming it may block him from listening to the locals claiming for compensation.

The sub county authority of Loro sub county are reportedly instructed the locals not to demand for any kind of compensation.

Okullu appreciated their area member of parliament Ishaa Otto for facilitating the construction of access road within the trading centre.

Otto added that he did mass consultation with the same people who are again up for compensation before the project got started and they all agreed to give their land free for the opening of the access road in the trading centre.

By Omara  Geoffrey

Oyam, Jan 14, 2008: The Commonwealth Secretariat in conjunction with the Indian Government has donated about four computer learning centers to cater for disadvantages children in Uganda.

Oyam is one of the 4 districts to benefit from this scheme. The centers shall be constructed in Kabale District,   Kiswa in Kampala, Ruhama County in Western Uganda, and at Anyeke Primary School in Oyam District, Northern Uganda.

Oyam woman Member of Parliament, Beatrice Amongi Lagada says the Commonwealth Secretariat in conjunction with the Government of India will construct a computer learning center in her district of Oyam to beef up skills of the disadvantage illiterates IDPs children.

Amongi Lagada during in an interview with Lango web added that the officials are already in the country to access the land where they would use it to build the ICT centres. The computers will be fixed on the wall to ensure proper security.

She applauded both the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of India for the donations.

An 11 year old boy, George Okello a pupil of Anyeke primary school in Oyam district where the centre will be constructed said:  I am expecting to get computer skills now that it will be brought to our schools”.

MP Amongi said that the Oyam district local leaders have allocated the land in Anyeke primary school to lead in the projects.

Meanwhile she has threatened to sweep to police all the parents who are not supporting their girls in the schools. Lagada noted with the great concern saying reports that some parents in the district of sidelining their daughters in educations.

The computer centre will help boost the skills and the knowledge of disadvantages children who were severely hit by the twenty years of LRA insurgency in the North.

Backlash against Oyam LC5 Chairman for “military” leadership

By Omara Geoffrey

Oyam, Jan 4, 2008: Oyam district LC3 chairpersons have expressed grievances against the district LC5 chairperson, Col (Rtd) Okello Engola for what they call military leadership and intimidation. They accused the retired Colonel of harassing them militarily as if he is still serving in the army.

The LC3 chairpersons expressed concerns during their recent annual meeting to elect district leaders for 2008 at Oyam district council hall.  Some of them who talked to on conditions of anonymity alleged that the district chairperson is using his military skills of command as if he is still serving in the Army.

Otwal LC3 chairperson Benson Dila and the Aber LC3 Chairperson Tom Arach reportedly vowed to resign because of harassment by the district LC5 boss. 

They also demanded that the district council investigates the alleged misuse of district funds and sabotage of the development of some sub-counties by the LC5 Chairperson. The angrily LC3 chairpersons and their executive members also accused Okello Engola of selfish leadership and favoritism in employment and allocation of tenders.   

Rtd Col Okello Engola denies the allegations. He said that some LC3 chiefs are seeking cheap ways of covering their corruption the lower council.

Recently the district chairperson threatened to order for the arrest of Otwal LC3 chairperson Benson Dila and the Aber LC3 Chairperson Tom Arach for misappropriating NUSAF project cash and soliciting for bribe from locals.

Engola says several people have accused Dila Benson of mismanaging their cash and have asked the district authorities to intervene.  Dila Benson has said he is ready for the arrest if the district boss has proof to support the allegations.

Okello Engola also threatened to arrest some lower council leaders who have been implicated in allege mismanagement of community projects, and added that the district council will institute a committee to deal with lower council complaints.

Meanwhile, some district councilors have vowed to move motions in district council meetings to demand for investigations some sub-county LC3 chairpersons who are accused of having been involved in the alleged mismanagement of NAADS and NUSAF funds.

Oyam Health Chief missing

By Omara Geoffrey

Oyam, Jan 4, 2008: A row has erupted between the former Oyam District Director of Health Services and the accountant of Anyeke Health Centre Four over unpaid allowances. The health chief has gone missing following an alleged assault on him and Oyam Police are reported to be on his trail.

The said Anyeke accountant reported the case of assault at Oyam central police station  over alleged unpaid allowances totaling to about 300,000Ug.Shs.

Dr.Okello Anam, former acting District director of health services, now the in charge Anyeke health centre four allegedly stormed the office of the health centre accountant demanding for what he called unpaid allowances which he was supposed to get for transport costs to a workshop in Lira.

Oyam District chief, Col. Okello Engola has threatened to subject Dr Okello Anam before the district disciplinary action for disgracing civil servants. Okello Engola told journalists that he ordered for the immediate police deployment at Anyeke health centre four after ten patients stormed his office demanding for the raw over pay to stop.

In another development Okello Engola is reported to have accused local media stations for inciting the district leaders against him by airing baseless allegations against him with the aim of damaging his integrity. He alleged that some journalists are being hired by his opponents to destroy him. Okello warned journalists to always work in accordance with journalistic ethics.

No person required in IDP camps, says disaster minister

Oyam LC5 Vice-Chairperson in trouble over government cattle

By Ronald Odongo in Anyeke

Police in Oyam district are investigating the district LC5 vice-chairperson for allegedly diverting some heads of cattle that were sent to be distributed to the locals in her sub-county of Minakulu under restocking program.

The investigation follows several complaints by some intended beneficiaries who said they were not given the cattle.

Minakulu sub-county locals accused the district vice-chairperson, Milly Omach, of giving the cattle mainly to her relatives and leaving out the true beneficiaries.

The accusation was put forward to the district LC5 Chairperson, Rtd Col Okello Engola Mac Odwogo, during his recent visit to access the situations of IDPs who have gone to their homes. Okello confirmed that fifty heads of cattle had been given to people of the area under the government’s restocking programme.

Okello has reportedly ordered his vice to withdraw 40 heads of cattle from the Kiwaani beneficiaries.

The Minakulu sub-county chief Mr. John Guttenbag has petitioned the distribution claiming it was based on political ground and the people who received the cattle were not the true beneficiaries.

Mr. Gutenbag also said the sub-county council had resolved to have the matter reported to the police for proper interrogation and if possible the cattle should be removed from the fake beneficiaries who received.

The fifty heads of cattle were handed over to the district vice-chairperson to have them distributed to the rightful owners in Minakulu sub-county where over ninety locals have been registered to benefit from the exercise.

Milly Omach, the vice-chairperson during telephone interview acknowledged the complaints and insisted that the distribution was carried in line with instructions and district procedures. She also accused a councilor, Robert Owor, who was also handling the distribution together with her for distributing forty heads of cattle to his close relatives only.

Ms Omach said that three heads of cattle were given to the disable group in Adee Parish and seven other heads of cattle were given to the women groups.

She added that she was given 10 heads of cattle and other forty heads of cattle were given to her counterpart, the councilor for Minakulu sub-county, Robert Owor.

The irritated true beneficiaries of Minakulu, reportedly stormed the office of the district vice-chairperson demanding for their money that was paid during the registration sometimes back. The vice-chairperson is said to have fled her office in fear of attack and embarrassments. She was rescued by group of villagers who called the police to rescue her.

Omach blamed the Minakulu sub-county leaders for sabotaging the district and the government program for development.

This is first restocking program in Oyam district with over two hundred heads of cattle sent from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry. The district chief Rt. Col.Okello confirmed that they have registered nearly one thousand locals to benefit from the restocking projects.