The estimated 92 households with more than 470 people of Pobura clan from two villages; Lobalokodi and Lubiri villages have been staying at the school since August 22, 2021.
More than 570 pupils of Kwoncok Primary School in Madi Opei sub-county, Lamwo district, are yet to resume studies, as their school is occupied
by residents that fled a protracted land conflict.
The estimated 92 households with more than 470 people of
Pobura clan from two villages; Lobalokodi and Lubiri villages have been staying
at the school since August 22, 2021. Two clans; Pobira and Pobura, have reportedly been
conflicting over a fertile chunk of land in Oryang village, measuring about
2000 acres for decades. Both clans maintain their forefathers gave the land to
the other.
Reports indicate that the two clans had been co-existing, until
in 1995 when the Pobira clan lodged a case in the chief magistrates’ court in
Kitgum, seeking a temporary injunction on land use by their rivals from Pobura
and in 1997, the court ruled in favour of Pobira.
However, in April 2021, a conflict erupted between the two
clans, after a supposed court document started circulating that the Pobura clan
members won a court case against Pobira over the land in contention. The
document is said to have excited the Pobura clan, and angered the Pobira,
leading to the attack that left two grass thatched huts torched, several
household properties destroyed and seven people
from the Pobura clan with injuries after four days of intense fighting.
Moses Oyat, the councillor III of Pobura parish, says the latest
conflict started
when the conflicting clans met in the contested land sometime in June 2021,
where one victim from the Pobura clan lost an eye, and another had one of his
toes cut off.
The
bitter fight forced the Pobura to first flee to a neighbouring Pobutu village,
where they stayed for more than a month, but the
host clan later said they had overstayed their welcome, which forced the land
victims to seek refuge at the school.
//Cue
in; “Ikare ma lweny...
Cue
out…camping kenyo.”//
Oyat, whose children also study at Kwoncok Primary Schools,
says his four children are still home because the nearest school is 6-kilometres
away.
//Cue in; “An onongo atye…
Cue out …wa I Madi Opei Town Council.”//
James Obalim, a resident of Lubiri Village, Pobura Parish
says up to 470 of the 589 victims sought refuge at the school, while the rest
are with relatives. Obalim, whose children also study at the affected school,
says he can’t afford to send his children to other schools, because the money
he gets from doing odd jobs is barely enough to buy food.
//Cue in; “An lutino na…
Cue out…cabun mo.”//
The
refugees are now saying their want to go back to their home and request relief aid in form of bedding, utensils and tents since all their huts have
been either burned or knocked down. Josephine
Achiro, a victim of the land conflict says they need security in the area and a
water source in their home because they have been sharing a water source with
their enemy.
//Cue
in; “Lok kom net…
Cue
out…dye gang botwa.”//
During a fact-finding mission at the school on Friday, the LCV of Lamwo district, Sisto
Ocen, says he has sought help from UNHCR, to assist the refugees with basic
needs, so that they leave the school for learners. Ocen appeals
to the conflicting clans to reconcile and start living peacefully like before.
//Cue in; “Wan
wamito ni…
Cue out…wayee
kiyubi.”//
Lamwo Resident District Commissioner James Nabinson
Kidega, says two days ago, he called the conflicting clans together with elders
to meditate but the Pobura clan did not show up. Kidega, however, promised
to ensure that a police post is installed in the area of conflict so that the
place is secure for all.
