The Jonam clan in Pakwach, Nebbi district, West Nile sub region has disputed the River Nile as the boundary of their land with their neighbouring Acholi.
The Jonam are one of the major clans among the Alur who border the Acholi from the west of River Nile.
On Monday police in Nwoya district arrested 15 people from Pakwach who had crossed the Nile claiming they had come to demand for their ancestral land in Tangi village in Nwoya district. Nwoya is one of the districts in the Acholi sub region.
Police identified the leader of the group as one Alex Orombo.
For the last four years, the border land at Latooro Parish, Purongo Sub-county in Nwoya District, has been a source of conflict between the Jonam and Acholi, each claims ownership of the land.
Orombi, the leader of the group arrested in Nwoya told police that he had crossed the River Nile with his men in order to settle on their forefathers’ land which he claims is located in Nwoya district. The disputed land stretches for hundreds of acres along the east of river Nile.
Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Aswa Region Police Spokesperson says the men were armed with dangerous weapons. Okema said police intervened to stop the situation from escalating. He said investigation by police in the matter is complete and the suspects will be charged with threatening violence.The suspects are currently being held at Nwoya Central Police Station (CPS) in Nwoya district.
In September last year, leaders of the Jonam issued a 30-day ultimatum to government to dispatch a verification team to handle the border conflict between Nwoya and Nebbi districts.
The ultimatum came a mediation to resolve the conflict failed. Rwoth Madir Odongo, the Jonam clan chief, said mediation had failed over the years leaving them with no option but to issue an ultimatum to government.
Early last year, convened by the then Nwoya County Member of Parliament Richard Todwong turned rowdy when the Jonam chief threatened to ‘curse’ the Nwoya leaders.
Reagan Okumu, the Chairperson Acholi Parliamentary (APG) condemned the boundary disputes between Acholi and Jonam. Okumu who is also MP for Aswa County in Gulu district said the river Nile is a natural boundary between the two communities. Okumu noted that the river had not changed course saying it is unrealistic for the Jonam to claim land across the river.
A report by SaferWorld, an indigenous NGO which works with families affected by land conflict, attributes the growing land conflicts in Nwoya district to the discovery of oil wells in the area. Nwoya has six oil wells out of the 64 in the country.
2 Comments
I thought Jonam is part of the greater Alur kingdom in which case the saying that Rwot Alur cannot cross the Nile should prove that Alur /Jonam belong West of the Nile. Got Apwoyo has Acholi Clan Shrines and burial grounds of ancient chiefs.
In Addition to our very clear history of how Gipir crossed to the other side of the river and settled right there.