Three people injured in Yumbe land dispute

At least 22 huts belonging to mebers of the Kechuru clan were torched by the Gotri clan members.

YUMBE

A land wrangle between two clans in Yumbe District turned ugly on Wednesday when members of the Gotri clan attacked their Kechuru neighbours. At least 22 huts belonging to members of the Kechuru clan were torched by the Gotri clan members and three people sustained serious injures after they were shot with arrows.

Dispute
According to the authorities, the incident occurred after a court ruling by the Arua Grade One Magistrate Court which stated that the 313 hectares of land belongs to Mr Nuru Ajiga of Kechuru clan.
However, Gotri clan members from Lodonga Sub-county were dissatisfied with the court ruling and attacked the Kechuru clan members in Kei Sub-county.

Stopping fight
The police were forced to call for reinforcement from the army bases in Koboko and Arua districts after they failed to stop the fighting. At least 53 women and children who had taken refuge in the bush, were later rescued by the police.

The complainant, Mr Muhamoud Lambe, from the Gotri clan said he leased the land in 2008. “As balalos came and occupied parts of the land, people from Kechuru started encroaching on it. Government should address this problem,” he said.

The Yumbe District Police Commander, Mr Geofrey Ogwok, said there was need for peaceful resolution to the conflict as investigations continue. “We shall continue with patrols and those with bows and arrows should surrender them to police,” he said.

The LC5 chairman, Mr Taban Yasin, said the affected families need urgent assistance of shelter, clothing and food stuff. Nobody has been arrested in connection to the clash. The land is being used by the two clans for settlement, grazing, agriculture.

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