Priest Faults Gov't Over Failure to Protect Locals in Disputed Apaa

A catholic priest has publicly condemned the government for what he describes as gross failure to protect the people of Apaa, on the disputed boundary claimed by both Amuru and Adjumani districts.

Rev. Fr. Eric Justin Uma, the Parish Priest of Holy Rosary Parish in Gulu City made the remarks on Sunday during a mass attended by hundreds of worshipers celebrating Palm Sunday.

Fr Uma expressed deep concerns on the escalating attacks in the disputed Apaa area, accusing the government of turning a blind eye on people’s safety despite boasting of offering protection to people in foreign countries.

“Our government has many soldiers’ deployed in Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan but they can’t protect the people of Uganda. Our government should be ashamed that people of Uganda are not safe but they protect other people,” said Fr Uma.

The prelate also blamed people in leadership from the Acholi Sub-region of failing to speak the truth about the ongoing violence in Apaa.

“Our children in leadership should be ashamed if our people are killed like dogs, like animals… we can’t speak the truth because we have picked money from the government to sell people, to sell away land, we should be ashamed,” he said.

Fr Uma’s remarks follow resurgence of violence in the disputed area that left three people dead and two others injured between March 27 and April 3 in Offu village in Okusijoni Sub county, Adjumani district.

He alleged that the violence over the disputed land could be an underhand work of some people in authority arguing that the two communities of Acholi and Madi aren’t enemies and have lived in harmony since time immemorial.

“Acholi and Madi are not enemies, many Madi people have married in Acholi and Acholi have married in Madi. So who is fueling the Madi and Acholi? the hands of government is there, the hands of our leaders are there because if greed.” Said Fr Uma.

In his homily, the prelate also raised concerns about reports of crop destruction by cattle belonging to migrant cattle keepers commonly known as Balaalo. He alleged that majority of the cattle keepers move with guns and leave their animals to graze in open fields and people’s gardens with locals unable to speak up due to fears.

Despite numerous government interventions and pledges to resolve the land conflict in Apaa, tensions continue to flare, often resulting in death, injuries and displacement of locals.

Since the latest attacks, five people suspected of planning and mobilizing repeated attacks in Apaa have so far been arrested and currently in detention at Fourth Infantry Division Headquarters in Gulu City.

Their arrest follows resolutions passed by security officials from both Amuru and Adjumani districts during a security meeting held at the Fourth Infantry Division on April 3 this year.

Gen Felix Busizoori told Uganda Radio Network in an interview that the hunt for other suspects is ongoing adding that all people implicated in causing violence in Apaa will be rounded up and prosecuted.