Mine event in Northern Region, Ajan Village, Laguti Sub County, Pader area, Uganda on Mon 12th December 2022

Amos Turyashaba, the Commissioner of Prisons Farm told URN during an interview that at least three landmines and anti-tank mines have been discovered in the area triggering fear, anxiety, and panic among the workers. The discovery of Unexploded Ordnance-UXOs and explosives has caused panic leading to delays in the opening up of the prison farm in Pader district. Uganda Prison Services seeks to open 38,000 acres of land in Ajan Village in Laguti Sub County for planting cereals to boost food security in the country and develop a modern agricultural farm. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animals Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) handed over part of the land belonging to Aswa ranch to Uganda prisons in August this year. Uganda Prisons started opening the land in October but the project has since stalled due to the discovery of unexploded ordnance (UXOs), which are believed to have been abandoned by the rebel Lord`s Resistance Army (LRA). Amos Turyashaba, the Commissioner of Prisons Farm told URN during an interview that at least three landmines and anti-tank mines have been discovered in the area triggering fear, anxiety, and panic among the workers. He explains that following the discoveries a team of land mine sweepers and scanners from the Uganda People`s Defence Forces (UPDF) were deployed and have now camped in the area to help overcome the challenges before the work can commence. She noted that upon resumption, planting crops on at least 10,000 acres of the farm will be done in March next year. According to reports from the Aswa River Police Region more than 600 explosives have been discovered and destroyed in the Acholi sub-region by the army since 2010.