A meeting intended to settle a boundary dispute between Agago and Abim districts was postponed last evening due to alleged poor communication. The two districts have been embroiled in a long-standing dispute over the border at Kamurono, which lies between them, dating back to 2012.
In June 2020, the
conflict escalated into a deadly clash between residents from the two
districts, leaving several people with injuries, houses burnt and
properties destroyed. Five of the attackers were arrested and are still in jail. The incident prompted
the Ministry of Lands Housing and Urban Development to intervene to settle the
matter. However, the mediation was interrupted by the Covid-19 lockdown.
On Friday evening, the
State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Sam Mayanja, went
to Agago district to arbitrate over the matter. However, the leaders of
Agago said they received a letter calling for a mediating meeting on the same
day through WhatsApp.
Beatrice Akello Akori,
the State Minister of Economic Monitoring, explained that only the leaders from Abim district
were officially informed about the
meeting.
Akori stressed that the
leaders of Agago are positive about resolving the protracted boundary dispute,
but informing only one side of the conflicting parties sends a bad message and
is causing speculation among the locals and leaders.
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Akori hinted that she is scared that the meeting, which
comes at a time the country is preparing
for the general elections, might affect the decision of the electorate who have
for years been voting for the NRM.
She advised the Minister to follow the right
communication channel to call for the next meeting.
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David Lagen, the MP for Agago County explained that
there is a need to first brief the Ministry of Lands of the issue at hand, so
that they go to Agago district and meet the district leaders, before officially
scheduling for a meeting with the community.
Lagen explained that it was improper for the Minister of
Lands to go for a land dispute meeting in the evening, in an insecure area.
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Dr. Sam Mayanja, the State Minister for Lands, Housing
and Urban Development, however, explained that he was in Otuke district,
mediating over a boundary district between Abim and Otuke districts, and he was
requested by Jimmy Bua Acon, the MP of Otuke East, to cross over to Agago,
which is just 20 minutes away, and mediate over the boundary dispute between
them and Abim.
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Dr. Mayanja told the leaders that he would return to the
district on another date set by the leaders.
Jimbricky Norman Ochero, the MP for Labwor County, Abim
district, appealed to the leaders of Agago to ensure that the conflict between
the two districts was quickly handled.
Ochero claimed that he has on several occasions
requested the leaders of the district to set a date for a conflict-resolution
meeting between the two districts in vain.
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Ochero also advised the leaders of Agago district to
practice impartiality when discussing issues of the border, so as not to
further escalate the problem.
Caroline Ayugi
Frank Openytho
Freelancer