Toli Ivan
Lawrence Okello, the Managing Director of Oil Energy (U) Ltd, the company behind the contested fuel station construction project on Pece Wetland in Green Valley Cell in Gulu city, was on Wednesday arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for destroying wetland.
Okello was picked at around 10am by armed men who stormed the construction site amidst scuffles before he was whisked away in a waiting van.
The investor had resumed work early this week, days after Gulu City councllors on Thursday betrayed the trust of the community and stealthily surrendered Pece Wetland in Green Valley Cell to the company to establish a fuel station.
Ambrose Onoria, the Gulu Resident City Commissioner (RCC) confirmed the report saying the project has also been halted by the City Security Committee.
Oola Patrick Lumumba, the Bar-dege-Layibi Division Mayor, who visited the site thanked the City Security Committee and the office of the president for discrediting the city councilors for betraying the trust of the electorates.
On Tuesday Alfred Okwonga, the City Mayor, distanced himself from the saga, accusing the councilors for betraying the position of the council.
For starters, in 2021, 2022, 2023 Gulu City Council blocked the same company from establishing a fuel station in the area already demarcated in a wetland.
On April, 29, 2024 the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) also halted the construction of a fuel station on Pece Wetland.
On 26 March, 2024 Gulu Chief Magistrate Said Barigye also halted the establishment of a fuel station on the land.
Environmental experts have recently warned that the sale of the Pece Wetland is putting Gulu city at risk of flooding and will deepen the water crisis in the city coupled with the destruction of aquatic animals in the different wetlands.
Pece wetland is the biggest wetland in Gulu City covering 55.9% (1027 ha) of the total surface 1836.4 ha of wetland areas of the City.
Pece stream provides natural sponges that trap and slowly release water, and reduce flood heights and erosion within the city centre.
