By Christopher Nyeko
GULU: Residents of Pok-Ogali, Pawel Angany and Tul-Laliya villages in Patiko and Owalo sub counties Gulu District are living in panic and fear due to an unknown helicopter hovering over their area.
Authorities in the area say they have been seeing the yellow helicopter that is flying at a low altitude landing in the residents’ gardens and near their homes in several remote places without their consent and knowledge about its activities since the beginning of this week.
Patrick Komakech, the Patiko Sub county chairperson told our reporter this Friday that a resident of Pawel Angany he identified as Martin Okello narrowly survived death by running away from the helicopter which almost landed on him as he tillied his garden on Wednesday morning.
According to Komakech, the incident has discouraged Okello from going to his garden for fear of losing his life.
Komakech adds that residents have told the sub county authorities that the helicopter is being piloted by white men.
Residents of the areas who preferred anonymity suspect that the occupants of the helicopter could be looking for land to grab or with evil motives for their area.
Komakech however appeals to the district security team to come up and provide information about the activities of the helicopter to the communities to restore calmness in the area.
Charles Ichogoro, the Gulu Resident District Commissioner when contacted acknowledged the presence of the helicopter in the area and called for calmness amongst the residents saying the people manning the helicopter have good intentions which however he did not disclose.
In August 2022 residents of Akonyibedo in Bungatira Sub County spent a night in the bush after a helicopter landed in their area due to bad weather which blocked it from landing at Gulu airfield.
