A contested wetland on which investor, Lawrence Okello, had commenced construction of a fuel station in Green Valley Cell, Bardege-Layibi Division alias Pece Stream Water Catchment area (Photo credit. Rosemary Anena).
A Uganda Oil Energy businessman was arrested by State House Anti-corruption Unit a fortnight ago, as he had deployed his workers to begin construction of his business premises in a wetland. Lawrence Okello and his workers were arrested and taken to Gulu City Central Police Station and later transferred to Kampala, arraigned before a Makindye court and remanded at Luzira Prison.
GULU CITY-TUESDAY 17, DECEMBER 2024
By Livingstone Okumu Langol
Francis Otim, the Counselor IV for Kirombe, Gulu City Layibi-Bardege Division who appeared with Patrick Lumumba, Mayor for Gulu City Layibi-Bardege Division to address Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC), informed that indeed there was a Gulu City Council resolution that gave a go ahead for the businessman to proceed with his project in the wetland that some of them opposed. The duo added that the council resolution is null and void.
Francis Otim said that the Gulu City Council resolution was null and void because there is a pending case in court where Oil Energy of Lawrence Okello is aggrieved that his project had not been cleared by the Gulu authorities and the case had not yet been disposed of.
“In the circumstance, Gulu City Council cannot go ahead to resolve that Okello should continue with his construction work in the wetland located in Green Valley Cell, Bar-Dege Layibi Division where the mayor himself, Patrick Oola Lumumba is not party to the resolution,” Otim said.
The background to the resolution clearing Lawrence Okello to proceed with the construction is that Andrew Otto Ogweta a councillor of Pece-Laroo City Division moved a motion, November 28,2024 in Gulu City Council that Lawrence’s project be allowed to proceed in view of the piling debts that the council faces in losing court cases. Speaker Renny Joy Alima and other councillors passed the resolution that excluded Mayor Andrew Okwonga.
Gulu residents, however, blame Mayor Okwonga that such a thing would not have happened under his watch if he was a strong leader and suspect that the businessman used money to influence the councillors to pass the resolution.
George Ebola, one of environmental activists in Gulu City, alleges that about a fortnight ago, Mr. Okello Lawrence met the Gulu Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC), Peter Banya, Gulu District Police Commander, City Internal Security Intelligence CISI and Northern Regional Police Commander including the Regional Criminal Investigations Officer in the office of Gulu City Resident Commissioner.
Ebola alleges that Mr. Okello Lawrence pulled out UGX 87m and pleaded to the top security officials that if they approve the construction of the fuel station, he would add another UGX 13m the following day to add up to a cool UGX 100m.
“Gulu City top security rejected his UGX 87m. Mr. Peter Banya, the incorruptible Deputy RCC jumped out of the meeting in protest leading others in the walk out against the attempted bribe,” George Ebola claimed.
Mr. George Ebola, furthermore disclosed that Gulu City Youth Councillor, Daniel Lubangakene upon learning that the security maestros had rejected the bribe, waylaid Lawrence Okello and convinced him that the softer target would be the city councillors whom he would sweettalk to pass a resolution in his (Lawrence’s) favour only if he could re-channel the UGX 87m to them.
A city council meeting would suddenly be called by Renny Joy Alima the speaker who allegedly mooted a plan that in order to approve Council resolution in favour of the oil tycoon, each councillor should at least pocket UGX 3m in the bribe money. One, Akena the Councilor for Layibi-Bardege was allegedly given UGX 8m million, to take and distribute as follows: Layibi-Bardege City Division Town Clerk UGX 3m; Mayor Layibi-Bardege City Division, Oola Patrick Lumumba, UGX 3m and he, Akena would remain with UGX 2m of the UGX 8m.
Ebola, however, adds that Akena did not deliver the monies to the would-be beneficiaries, sparking outrage from them, upon learning about the would-be booty that never reached.
Willy Chowoo, Media Environmental Activist when contacted to give highlight of Pece Stream water catchment says, in 2018 Oil Energy bought a land title from another investor who acquired the plot, and he took the land title before Gulu District Land Board which rejected the plan to construct a fuel station in the wetland.
Chowoo said despite the rejection by the Gulu District Land Board, Mr. Okello went ahead to process the work construction plan, that he presented to the Ministry of Water and Environment in Kampala that okayed the plan with some conditionalities.
However, in another twist, Gulu City Authority rejected the idea of a fuel station in the Plot 13, Gulu Avenue, with submission that it endangers the wetland. Equally on insistence, Gulu City Building Control Authority refused to grant Lawrence Okello construction certificate in the wetland.
Lawrence Okello was not done, he dragged Gulu City to the High Court with intent to force Gulu City Building Board Authority to give in and approve his construction plan.
In March 2023, Lawrence Okello stubbornly started to construct the fuel station. Gulu City Council went to court to block Mr. Okello not to proceed with the construction in what they dubbed protected Pece stream water catchment.
“To our surprise on 29, November 2024, The City council passed a resolution to allow Mr. Okello Lawrence to construct the oil fuel station in the wetland, citing that the 17 councilors unanimously passed a supportive resolution with only one Councilor, Onen Canodonga, for Layibi-Bardege objecting to the resolution,” Mr. Willy Chowoo said.
“We still appeal as residents of Gulu City that our duty is to protect the wetland, Gulu City Authority should give Mr. Okello another land elsewhere,” Chowoo pleaded.
Mr. Willy Chowoo says that Gulu City councilors should apologise to the people of Gulu City, otherwise, they should pass a vote of no confidence against all 17 of them. “We are going to organise people to reject them, based on their resolution,” Chowoo said.
In conclusion, Mr. Willy Chowoo reiterates that he appeals to the Minister of Water and Environment to weigh in and protect the only wetland in the city, otherwise, the impact on the environment will be great.
Andrew Otto Ogweta, Gulu City Councillor who moved the motion to give the investor a go ahead to encroach on the wetland was mute when the Black Star News attempted to contact him.
The Speaker for Gulu City Council, Hon. Renny Joy Alima when asked about the money they were given by Mr. Okello Lawrence, did not deny but said a list of beneficiaries from Lawrence’s money should be provided, probably suggesting they were not the only beneficiaries.
“I will give you the amount we the Gulu City Councilors have received from him, when he avails you with the list, for now I don’t have any comment,” Hon. Alima said.
Samuel Oduny, Gulu City Councilor for the elderly people, when reached for comment, said that he had no business with journalists, he went furthermore to say. “Go and ask your mother, don’t play with Hon. Alima, can’t you see I am a heavyweight, go out of here,” Mr. Oduny fumed.
Adong Caroline Rose, the Councillor for the Disabled denied getting the UGX 3m. She re-echoed Andrew Otto Ogweta’s stance that Gulu City has a large court backlog, and that the councilors needed to ward off Oil Energy court issues, suggesting she is okay with letting off the wetland.
