RESIDENTS SHOCKED BY STRANGE SIGN POST

Three –two weeks ago, residents of Tapac Sub County, Moroto district discovered a strange sign post

Domokwang Angella, parish councillor surprised by the sign post

planted in the bush near Lokiles village in Loyaraboth parish.

Another unexpected mark-stone written in Chinese was also uprooted in Kosiroi village, Katikekile parish in the same Sub County within same period.

“I think some people are doing an underground transaction on land and other resources in this soil of the Tepeth without following the right procedure” said Peter Loboot, the LC3 Chairperson of the Sub County.

Loboot was speaking during the Sub County council session a week ago. This blog also spoke to a number of councillors of the area at the sidelines of the meeting. They said the Sub County authority had inquired from the district officials about the two issues but no official is informed. “Even the district land officers including political leaders are surprised!”

The councillors reported that strange visitors keep frequenting the mineral rich locations of Kosiroi –where Tororo Cement Factory mining site is based. Others including whites and Indians reportedly sneak to Loyaraboth, Nakwanga and Natumkale parishes where deposits of Gold with very high percentage are said to be found.

Zeah displays the Chinese marble markstone during the session

The acting Sub County Chief, Sister Zeah Waphukhulu asked the community leaders to be vigilant and track such unscrupulous intruders into the Sub County.

“You should be really watchful and ensure every visitor passes through the right channel or else one day you will wake up to find that you no longer have land”.  Zeah added that other anonymous investors had started creating access roads to unknown locations in the Sub County despite the clearly planned government roads.

“It is difficult to tell these people who are creating their own roads in the Sub County without the consent of authorities and without following the existing plans of government for the roads accessing this Sub County.”

Located at the edge of the Country to the extreme north Eastern -Karamoja, Tapac Sub County in Moroto district share boundaries with North Pokot and Turkana land in Kenya.

Although largely known for being insecure due to presence of some illegal small arms and light weapons, the Sub County has a number of unexploited mineral resources according to local authorities.

The Sub County chief said minerals like; Gold, Silver, Limestone, Green and red garnets are in abundance in the area. Others include; diamonds, mercury and a multitude of additional precious stones whose values are not known to the locals.

The Sub County is also blessed with attractive sceneries of Mt Moroto. Tourism assets in the area include the ever-green artificial forest planted by Idi Amin’s Soldiers on top of the mountain and the unique highland settlements and culture of the Tepeth people.