Charles Okoya, the Vice Chairperson of Apaa Sub-Parish in Apaa Township told Uganda Radio Network in an interview Friday that the assailants numbering about 100 men had camped in the area for one week.
Four people have been confirmed
dead while 35 grass-thatched huts razed following an attack by unknown assailants in the disputed
Apaa Township.
The deceased were attacked on Wednesday by assailants reportedly wielding bows, arrows, and clubs
in Te-Okono village between Acholi ber and Punu dyang.
Local leaders have identified those
killed as Walter Ocan 28, Justine Odong 53, Daniel Oloya 31, and Maurensio
Obwona 50. Their bodies were recovered on
Thursday with piles of clubs abandoned near them.
The attack also left four people Injured. Two are receiving medical treatment at Mungula Health Center IV while the others have been rushed to St Mary's Hospital Lacor.
Charles Okoya, the Vice Chairperson
of Apaa Sub-Parish in Apaa Township told Uganda Radio Network in an interview
Friday that the assailants numbering about 100 men had camped in the area for one week.
Okoya says the attackers
suspected to be Madi tribesmen launched their attack on Wednesday despite local
residents alerting security personnel about the intrusion.
He notes that several grass-thatched
huts have been torched while livestock and food crops have been looted by the assailants
during the attack adding that four people suspected to have been abducted are
still missing.
Luo Bite
//Cue in: “Joni dong gubedo…
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According to Okoya, the deceased
bodies were on Thursday transported to Mungula Health Center IV morgue for postmortem
to ascertain the exact cause of their death.
Okoya however criticized security
personnel in Apaa township for their reluctance to respond to their calls when
the assailants illegally intruded in their area.
Luo Bite
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Abraham Opiro, a resident of Apaa
village also faulted the police for ignoring their messages over unknown people
who had camped illegally on their land arguing that had they responded, no life
would have been lost.
Luo Bite
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Peter Taban Data, the Adjumani Resident District Commissioner didn't immediately comment on the matter when called for an interview citing he was busy in a meeting.
Kilak North legislator who
doubles as the Acholi Parliamentary Group (APG) Chairperson condemned the
attack and called for speedy investigation by security so that the culprits are
apprehended.
He says the attack undermines concerted
efforts initiated by several stakeholders in the region and central government to
ensure peace prevails over the disputed territory.
Akol however raised frustration
with the newly appointed Judicial Commission of Inquiry for not kicking off
their work and noted that the central government should take over management of
Apaa in the meantime.
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Fourth Infantry Division Spokesperson Maj. Telesphor
Turyamumanya says security personnel comprising the army, Police, and
UWA rangers are pursuing the attackers to face justice.
The latest attack comes less than
a month after the President swore in the Judicial Commission of Inquiry members
headed by retired Chief Justice, Bart Katureebe to kick off the investigation into
the decade-long Apaa land dispute.
Other members of the commission
are Justice Alice Mpagi Bahigaine, Justice Steven George Engwau, Joyce Gunze
Habaasa, Dr. Fred Henry Bateganya, George Omunyokol, and Imelda Adongo.
Contention over Apaa started in
2012 when Adjumani District Council gazetted the area as East Madi Game
Reserve, sparking off disagreement with Amuru district which claimed ownership
of the same land.
The conflict was further fueled
when the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers moved in and started the forceful
eviction of residents claiming they were illegally occupying a game reserve. In
2017, the dispute turned bloody after the then-local Government Minister Tom
Butime annexed the area formerly under Pabbo Sub-county in Amuru District and
handed it to Adjumani District.
Several concerted efforts to find
lasting peace over the land conflict including the appointment of committees
headed by former Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, former Speaker of
Parliament Jacob Oulanyah, the Equal Opportunities Commission, and cultural
leaders over the years have yielded no fruits.
