The Soroti District Resident Commissioner (RDC) Filbert Ocailap has ordered the arrest of the Soroti University Secretary Ms. Ruth Acimo and her juniors who are accused of illegally evicting residents of Aputon Village from their land which the university claims ownership.
Speaking to the affected residents yesterday evening, RDC Ocailap said he had directed the area DPC to arrest all university officials who were involved in the illegal act.
On Saturday last week, six people believed to be court bailiffs from Mbale District sustained serious injuries while executing a night eviction on orders of Secretary Ruth Acimo.
At least 20 households by morning are said to have been rendered homeless.
A teary resident in front of her destroyed hut
In March, Soroti grade one magistrate Grace Wakooli ruled against the university’s planned forceful eviction of the residents without fully compensating them.
During the village meeting yesterday, the RDC determined to have the people that went against the court order to face the law.
The Soroti district LC5 chairperson Michael Egunyu also backed the arrest of the university officials.
Yesterday in Kampala, MPs under the The Teso Parliamentary Group (TPG) led by Serere County Mp Patrick Okabe expressed anger against Soroti University’s actions.
“Our people just recovered from war and now from nowhere, a few individuals are bent to revive instability which we cannot tolerate,” said Okabe.
Teso Parliamentary Group Publicity David Abala demanded the resignation of the University Secretary.
But when contacted yesterday morning for a comment, the Soroti University Secretary Ms. Acimo told this reporter on phone that she wasn’t aware of the allegations against her.
She said enemies were out to damage her name and that of the new university.
“We as Soroti University are involved only in peaceful means of obtaining the land,” said Acimo.