Apaa land Conflict: Six Injured in Fresh Revenge Attack

At least six people have been injured in a fresh revenge attack by machete-wielding men in the contested Apaa land that borders Amuru and Adjumani districts.

The victims, five of whom are from the Madi community and another from Western Uganda were reportedly attacked on Thursday from their gardens in Molokodi Trading Center in Itirikwa Sub-county.

The Itirikwa Sub-County Chairperson Jesus Iranya confirmed the attack to Uganda Radio Network in an interview Friday saying two of the victims sustained severe injuries.

He identified them as Daniel Ira and Albino Zelebu who are currently receiving medical treatment from Mungula Health Center IV.

According to Iranya, four others with minor injuries were still in hiding.

Iranya however believes that the attackers suspected to be from the Acholi community retaliated following an earlier altercation between the two communities on land.

“We don’t know the clear motives but issues of land could be driving this attack. We have other tribes who are living with us peacefully without any fight,” says Iranya.

He also suspects some invisible hand could be fueling the attacks given the fact that peace had prevailed in the area for a year now.

On Friday, security personnel comprising the police and army visited the crime scene and arrested four suspects and blood-stained machetes retrieved as exhibits. 

A police officer privy to the operation who spoke on condition of anonymity noted that the suspects who are from the Acholi community are being held at Zoka Police Station pending further investigation.

The latest attack comes barely two weeks after 14 huts were torched in Ngoro B Village also in Iitirikwa Sub-county, leaving about 20 people homeless and dozens injured. The incident led to the arrest of the Mdi Paramount Chief Stephen Drani who is accused of being behind the clash.

Drani was on Wednesday remanded to Openzinzi Prison by the Adjumani Grade One Magistrate Jude Kamuganga charged with seven counts of attempted murder and three counts of assault.

The prosecution alleges Drani and others still at large attempted to cause the death of six residents of Ngoro B Village identified as Gule Afiza, Butele Habib, Tabuga Zachary, Galumbwe Ismael, and Beatrice Lokua. 

It also contends that the accused and others still at large unlawfully assaulted Ijotre Sadik, Drichi Siraje, and Ababiku Flavia occasioning bodily harm.

Drani wasn’t allowed to enter any plea since the court lacked the jurisdiction to try the capital case. The Magistrate consequently remanded Drani to Openzinzi Prison until May 5 when he returns to court before the Chief Magistrate for plea-taking. 

The 4th Infantry Division Commander Brigadier Bonny Bamwiseki told Uganda Radio Network on Friday that security had been beefed up in the disputed area following the recent attacks. 

He also noted that culprits behind the attacks will face the law and called for calm between the two communities whom he says have been living peacefully in the past.

Apaa has been at the center of inter-tribal conflicts between the Acholi and Madi communities in the Amuru and Adjumani districts. 

The disputed area measures approximately 800 sqm and is claimed by Uganda Wildlife Authority as a gazetted East Madi Wildlife Reserve located in the Adjumani district.