Amuru
Landlords in Amuru District have issued a warning to tenants that they would start levying taxes on the formerly displaced persons still living in camps.
The landlords said since there is peace in the region, there is no reason as to why the IDPs should not return to their homes. “We want to make use of our land for development, if the IDPs are still stuck on it, the best option would be charging them some amount of money at the end of every month,” Mr Nabdudhal Okwonga, a land owner in Alero Sub-county, said. “A total number of 2,000 IDP’s have stayed on my land for the last 20 years, they have to begin paying me at least Shs5,000 per house hold per month,” he added.
Mr Okwonga told Daily Monitor on Thursday that the government promised them a token of appreciation for keeping IDPs but has since not done so. “Our land has degenerated for a long time. We need assistance from the government so that our land can be used for other purposes like fighting poverty in our homes,” he added.
The Amuru General Purpose committee chairperson, Ms Margaret Adong, said returning is a process and if the IDP policy still stands, they have their right to return willingly and voluntarily. “We are working closely with our development partners to resettle the IDPs and for land related issues, the elders are marking out the demarcations,” Ms Adong said.
In Dokolo District, many IDPs who left camps, now rent rooms ranging between Shs3,000 and Shs6,000 per month. The landlord said the directive will be effective by May next year.
The government declared a voluntary return of all IDPs in 2006 the greater north after rebels of the Lords Resistance Army led by Joseph Kony entered into peace talks in the South Sudan capital of Juba. Kony has since failed to sign the final peace agreement.
Landlords in Amuru District have issued a warning to tenants that they would start levying taxes on the formerly displaced persons still living in camps.
The landlords said since there is peace in the region, there is no reason as to why the IDPs should not return to their homes. “We want to make use of our land for development, if the IDPs are still stuck on it, the best option would be charging them some amount of money at the end of every month,” Mr Nabdudhal Okwonga, a land owner in Alero Sub-county, said. “A total number of 2,000 IDP’s have stayed on my land for the last 20 years, they have to begin paying me at least Shs5,000 per house hold per month,” he added.
Mr Okwonga told Daily Monitor on Thursday that the government promised them a token of appreciation for keeping IDPs but has since not done so. “Our land has degenerated for a long time. We need assistance from the government so that our land can be used for other purposes like fighting poverty in our homes,” he added.
The Amuru General Purpose committee chairperson, Ms Margaret Adong, said returning is a process and if the IDP policy still stands, they have their right to return willingly and voluntarily. “We are working closely with our development partners to resettle the IDPs and for land related issues, the elders are marking out the demarcations,” Ms Adong said.
In Dokolo District, many IDPs who left camps, now rent rooms ranging between Shs3,000 and Shs6,000 per month. The landlord said the directive will be effective by May next year.
The government declared a voluntary return of all IDPs in 2006 the greater north after rebels of the Lords Resistance Army led by Joseph Kony entered into peace talks in the South Sudan capital of Juba. Kony has since failed to sign the final peace agreement.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/regional-special/Amuru_IDPs_to_pay_ground_rent_76858.shtml
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