UGANDA: JOSEPH KONY’S SPIRITUAL, AWERE AND ATO HILLS TO GRAB-FORMER RESIDENCE COMMISSIONER

“Awere Hill, Joseph Kony, warlord of the National Resistance Army (LRA), 60 kilometers east of Gulu City on Moroto Road, security has barred any pilgrims, including surrounding people who live nearby. As we talk now, if you try to climb Awere Hill, you will be arrested.” Francis Mawa, Acholi spiritual leader, commented.

GULU CITY-FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 2026.

By Okumu Livingstone Langol, (Uganda Correspondent)

The officials of Omoro District, who claim they are from the Uganda Tourist Board, have been holding meetings with the community surrounding Awere Hill for the last three years, telling them to give up 250 meters from the Hill to allow them to develop a tourist site.

Okullu Okanga, retired Makerere Laboratory Analyst from the faculty of Veterinary Medicine, narrated to Our Uganda Correspondent that indeed the meeting has been going on between the community surrounding Awere Hill with the officials from the Omoro District discussing the issue you are following.

“Some people within the Awere community are accusing me of selling the Awere Hill to the Investor, but I did not. After January 15, 2026, Parliamentary and Presidential Polls, two people came here in Ajan village moving around telling them that the community within Awere Center including Awere Secondary and Awere Primary school should move out of the area. The government will compensate them UGX 5 million, because the government has an interest in Awere Hill.” Okullu Okanga, former Makerere Don, narrates.

Omaci John, the Aan village Local Council 1, in an interview, one-on-one confirmed that they have several meetings in regards of Awere Hill with officials from the Omoro District Tourist including the officials from the Uganda Tourist Board who they told has the government has interest to developed the areas into Uganda Tourists Hub. But the matter has not yet been resolved; although whenever we have a meeting, people who turn up their name have been documented, this fuels the fear that the Government can use our names for another motive.

“I cannot confirm if the government is using the community ignorantly to acquire the land, or if they are seriously engaging us on genuine issues.” Omaci, the Ajan village area LC1 mooted.

Francis Okello Maw, the Acholi Spiritual leader who also hails from Awere area under the community Initiative called Awere, Odek, Lalogi (AOL), Community acknowledges that the government through the Omoro District Authority have been holding meetings in regards to were Hill.

“What I know is that the security forces have been put around Awere Hill; when you go now to access Awere Hill, you will be arrested. The reason is. The government is barring people from having access to the pilgrims and visitation.” Acholi Spiritual leader Okello Francis Mawa argued.

Ojok Laboke, the immediate neighbor of the Awere Hill whose land reaches up to the foot of the Awere Hill, remarked that the government has no rights to take away your land. What I know is that we have traditional cultural customary land. Which means the land belongs to the community under the stewardship of the Acholi Cultural leader, controlled by Rwot.

Therefore, Rwot Puranga has the mandate, and the community who live within the suspected grab land has a say, nobody land will be taken when we are around, Ojok Laboke noted.

Opira Silvestro, the former Pader District Resident Commissioner, now a senior Citizen living in Gulu City, forth months ago. Asked the teams from the Uganda Land Commission who came to Gulu City in Community Hall Barajas meeting held inn Gulu City Council under the docket of Gulu City Land Commissioner Auther Owor and Gulu City Mayor, Julius Achire Labeja Gunya, ask a question, why the government is now using UPDF to grabbed Ato Hill located 20 kilometers east of Gulu City?

The Residence City Commissioner (RCC), for Gulu City Ambrose Onoria called for the UPDF 4^TH Infantry Division Commander based in Gulu Major General Felix Busizoori, but his official came and denied that the UPDF Infantry they are grabbing the Ato Hill, however, information collected confirmed that indeed the UPDF have occupied the Ato Hill for security purpose.

Kenneth Oketta, the Commission in the Office of Prime Minister sitting in Gulu City OPM office, carried out the prospective for the mineral resources in Northern Uganda, and his finding is that the Awere Hill have Mercury mineral in big quantity, the Omoro Hill have gold deposit, while Odek have also gold deposits. Among other areas in Northern Uganda, we are very rich in terms of mineral resources.

“My advice to our people: let us not sell land because you don’t know what is in your land. I have moved in many places; I have discovered that people have sold up their land, and yet they have minerals in those places.” Commission Kenneth Oketta advised.

Andrew Okot Obi Bii, the Omoro Local Government Chairman, confirmed that he is aware that the officials from the Omoro District have been meeting the Awere community, especially the Ajan village people, over the matter.

“What I can tell you, I will have time to take you to the media for the visitation and inspection of the areas, and when you meet the affected people, you will hear from them, rather than me giving you information from here.” The District Chairman, Okot Andrew, commented.

Both the area MPs, Andrew Ojok Oulanyah, the Omoro County MP and the Omoro District Woman MP, Catherine Lamwaka, when our Correspondent contacted them, the attempt to reach them through their known phones was futile.