Okoth Ochola, the Deputy Inspector General of Police has ordered the closure of Ojwina central police in Lira town over persistent wrangles on which the station is built at Kichope village in Ojwina Division. In 2006, a group of private developers dragged police and attorney to court claiming that they had bought the disputed land from the district land board.
Robert Ssemata, the Lira District Police Commander says that he has been advised by the deputy IGP to close Ojwina Police Station. Two weeks ago, residents of Ojwina divisions and local leaders reacted angry about the news of proposed closure of the police station.
However, by Thursday morning, URN found only about 10 policemen still at Ojwina police and also noted that all the police unipots constructed a few months ago had been removed. Patrick Mawerere, the officer in charge of Lira Central Police Station says that they were compelled to remove the station because of the court case.
He says that they will continue providing security in Ojwina division from their barracks as they look for a new site to settle.
//Cue in: “We were sued in………………………………
Cue out:……………we never forced ourselves there”//
Some of the people who dragged the attorney general and police authority to court include Alfred Adoli Ogwok, Michael Alani, Alfonse Okello and Jackson Apule.
They are seeking compensation of up to 30 billion shillings for the illegal use of their land. Susan Akuny, the Lira RDC says that she is coordinating with local authorities to identify another piece of land to settle the police station.
