The people of Apolin, Olela and Aparisia Parishes in Katakwi Sub-County have petitioned Minister Peter Ogwang against the actions of a one Apuda Ignatius Loyola whom they accuse of encroaching and degrading Awaya Swamp.
Apuda contested in 2016 for Usuk County MP but lost miserably to Peter Ogwang.
The community says that Mr Apuda has defied directives from District Environment Officer and RDC and continued to cultivate on the swamp where government dug a valley dam in the early 1960s.
"His activities in the swamp have blocked the pass ways (access roads) hence the people in those communities can no longer have access to the affected villages. The pupils of Aparisia village can no longer access Apolin Primary School. Apuda now chases away children who go to graze animals and water them in the swamp," the petition reads.
On Wednesday, the affected communities resolved in a meting that NEMA comes up to save the swamp from Apuda. The communities also want Apuda to produce evidence to show that he rightly acquired the rights to use the swamp.
They have vowed to take matters into their own hands if "government does not come to their rescue because they can no longer tolerate the impunity with which Apuda conducts himself."
Apparently, Apuda is threatening to harm LC Chairperson Apolin, Mr Idungot Vincent, the lay reader, Dan Omongin of Apolin Church and Henry Moses Omaje, LCIII Chairperson, Katakwi Sub-County.
Apuda is also in a land dispute with the district over land that houses Community Centre building in Apolin which the district leaders want to turn into a Health Centre II. Apparently, he has taken over the public asset (community building) claiming the Community Centre was constructed on his land, yet the locals claim that the land was theirs.