On Tuesday, Ocen said that the residents have rejected the health workers from Adjumani district citing distrust.
Apaa residents have rejected health workers from Adjumani to immunize them during the mass vaccination against measles and
rubella diseases.
Over 18 million children aged 15 to zero will be vaccinated across
the country during the exercise that starts on Wednesday.
In the contested Apaa Township 5,800 children will be vaccinated
according to Christopher Ocen the head of Village Health Teams (VHT) in Apaa.
On Tuesday, Ocen said that the residents have rejected the health
workers from Adjumani district citing distrust.
He explained that during his outreaches the residents expressed
fear of intoxication by Madi health workers whom they claim are unhappy with
them because of the dispute over Apaa land.
On Tuesday a meeting of VHTs from Amuru and Adjumani was convened
at Otwee Town Council over the immunization schedule but the community leaders
from Apaa equally said they will not allow their children be vaccinated by Adjumani
health workers.
Wilson Acuma, Apaa, the LCI Chairperson said his community members are still
haunted by ghost of the 2017 land conflict with Madi speaking tribe of Adjumani
that caused the death of ten people.
Geoffrey Omony, the Labala Parish Councillor III where Apaa is
located said health officials from Amuru and Adjumani districts on Tuesday
agreed to hold the immunization by health workers from Amuru.
He said the exercise will be held at seven community schools in the area.
Apaa has been at the epicentre of conflict between Madi tribe of
Adjumani and Acholi of Amuru since 2013. Both claim ownership of the land.
In 2017, Tom Butiime, the Minister for Local Government declared
that Apaa was in Adjumani district a decision highly contested by the Acholi
community.
Emmy Daniel Ojara is a young journalist and has been practicing since 2013, during which he covered land rights violation in the contested Apaa and Lakang in Amuru as his first take ups while at Gulu Fm, Favor Fm and later Paidha Fm and Speak Fm where he is still attached.
Human rights abuses and denied access to land by security and government agencies has been the major aftermath of the contest over the lands. The underprivileged such as women, children and the elderly faced challenges in accessing soc
