Kilak County MP nabbed like chicken thief, detained
On Tuesday, police operatves in For-God Parish in Bardege-Layibi Division, outside Gulu City center fired teargas to disperse a gang of locals led by Kilak South Member of Parliament Gilbert Olanya, for reportedly looting charcoal.
The MP is accused of inciting locals to block a charcoal truck registration number UAM 698Q loaded with charcoal from an unknown destination. The group was trying to enforce a ban on the commercialization of charcoal instituted by the Environment Minister and Nema.
Olanya mobilized able bodied youth and reportedly ordered them to to illegally intercept charcoal trucks before looting away charcoal from them. However, his lack run out when police officers showed up at the scene and ordered him to stop.
Kilak County MP nabbed like chicken thief, detained
After he resisted, police officers grabbed him by the trousers like a chicken thief, dragging him into a truck on standby before whisking him away.
Conrad Byomugabe, the Gulu City West Division Police Commander says Olanya is being detained at Gulu City West Police station.
Byomugabe says Olanya’s arrest is in relation to the incitement of locals and violence adding that many police officers at the time of the arrest of the suspect suffered injuries.
“It’s true we have arrested him from the scene at For-god on Amuru road. He is being held at Gulu West Police Station,” says Byomugabe.
He, however, notes that the Police are yet to conduct further investigation before full details pertaining to his arrest are released.
Olanya recently launched a campaign on the escalating illegal charcoal trade in the region along with a group of vigilantes while accusing the police and environmental authorities in the region of failing to curb the vice.
Olanya and his counterpart the former Aruu Counter legislator Samuel Odonga Otto have since taken the matters into their hands and in separate incidents have been caught on camera intercepting charcoal trucks, destroying charcoal bags, and inciting locals to loot them.
However last week, the Aswa River Region Police spokesperson David Ongom Mudong warned that there will be consequences for the legislator’s action saying its unlawful.
Last Month, Amuru District authorities impounded over 1,000 bags of charcoal in a crackdown to implement the ban on illegal charcoal production and transportation.
Kilak County MP nabbed like chicken thief, detained
