Apaa land wrangle: Rival groups agree to dialogue
The 4th Division Commander, Brig Bonny Bamwiseki (left), and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah (centre) share a meal with the Madi community in Apaa last Thursday. PHOTO BY BRENDA ALAROKER
AMURU/ADJUMANI- Rival communities occupying the contentious Apaa land bordering Adjumani and Amuru districts have agreed to resolve the impasse among themselves through dialogue.
The decision came after Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah visited the communities last Thursday and said resolving the dispute lies within themselves since they have lived in harmony over the past year.
In response, the rival communities agreed to form a 20-member committee to discuss their grievances with a view to finding a permanent solution.
Mr Latim Benedict Otto, who will chair the committee, yesterday observed that they have co-existed with the Madi, demonstrating the need to dialogue so as to find a lasting solution to the conflict.
“I have married two wives from Adjumani District and have children with them. I have created relationship with the Madi community; I don’t see any reason as to why we should fight. How will I be seen by my in-laws the next time I visit them?” he said.
Mr Jesus Iranya, the chairperson of Itirikwa Sub-county in Adjumani District, also welcomed the proposal.
“This is a good initiative; the problem within us deserves a solution from us. We shall sit down and come up with a committee that will sit with the Acholi community,” Mr Iranya said.
He explained that the current conflict was a result of encroachment by people who were evicted from the East Madi Wildlife Game reserve and Zoka Central Forest reserve by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the National Forestry Authority.
Mr Oulanyah’s Thursday visit came in the wake of recent counter attacks among the communities that left some injured and hundreds displaced after their huts were burnt.
Addressing the residents in Zoka Trading Centre, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament said the solution to the dispute lies among them since they had settled harmoniously in the past.
“You have said that this conflict was not there in the past; you have lived in peace in the past. It is up to you to find ways of resolving the problem, let us start making peace by ourselves,” Mr Oulanyah said.
