Uganda People’s Defense Forces- UPDF has denied knowledge of the mysterious underground tunnels discovered in Ngora district. The mysterious tunnels that have triggered anxiety among residents have since turned into a tourist attraction as hundreds of people flock the area to see them.
George Odeke, a resident of Kokong village in Kapir sub county discovered the tunnels while digging a pit latrine in his home about three weeks ago. The existence of the mysterious tunnels was exposed through social media on Sunday evening. Several people claimed that the tunnels could have been used by security or thugs for mischievous activities in the district.
After the news of the underground tunnels went viral especially on social media, the 3rd Division Intelligence Chief, Lt. Col. Ephraim Byaruhanga and his team visited Kokong village on Tuesday to get firsthand information.
Shortly after accessing the area, Byaruhanga told our reporter on the phone that Kokong tunnels are a natural phenomenon and not associated with UPDF movements or other military activities.
His findings are similar to the claims made by police on Monday that the tunnels are merely caves formed underground. In his press statement, Oscar Gregg Ageca, the East Kyoga Regional Police Spokesman said that the tunnels are underground systems not related to any road works as claimed by the community.
“Preliminary findings show that the alleged road is actually a system of underground caves though the community is now alluding to all kinds of supernatural inferences, which is not true”, he said.
Margaret Awekonimungu, the Ngora District Environment Officer notes that the tunnels could be an underground occurrence that can only be explained by geologists.
Mike Odongo L’Asio, the Ngora district chairperson says that his consultations with some elders in Ngora indicate that the area was once a swamp linking to Awoja water catchment. He notes that the tunnels could be a result of earth formation, which remains a mystery until the geologists explain.
By Tuesday evening, no geologist had visited the area. When contacted, the Executive Director of National Environment Management Authority-NEMA, Dr. Tom Okurut said that the Ngora tunnel discovery is a new occurrence that his team will explain after visiting the site.
“We are getting clearance from relevant authorities to enable the team to visit the site. Once that is done, we shall be in Ngora and the geologists will explain what could have happened underground”, he said on phone.
At Odeke’s home, more people continue to visit and descend into the pit to witness what’s underground. The family is now worried about their safety especially from COVID-19 infections since people are crowding their home some without masks.
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By: URN
