Two people were on Wednesday killed and 8 critically injured in a bloody conflict between residents of Adjumani and Amuru districts over a border dispute between the two districts
The fight involved the Madi community from Juka in Adjumani and Acholi from Apaa in Amuru.
Apaa parish is claimed by both Adjumani and Amuru districts. The conflict over the border land has gone on for years, simmering, exploding and cooling.
The dead from the fight have been identified as Saidi Nyeko a resident of Acholibur and Okwera Bosco a 24 year old resident of Lalai village, all located in Apaa parish. Their body is at the Gulu Regional Referral hospital mortuary.
Loum Sitwell Ibedo Kilaneki, the Apaa village local chairperson said the fight was triggered by an incident on Monday at around 8:00 am from Juka C when a group of from the Madi tribe armed with bows and arrows attacked residents from Apaa on the Amuru side said to have been cultivating their land. According to Kilaneki, the situation worsened when a group from Apaa mobilsied and attacked the Madi. This account could not however be independently verified by Acholi Times neither could we get in touch with the party in the conflict from Juka in Adjumani.
Among the injured persons are Walter Okwera, Richard Opoka, Patrick Ojara, Charles Okello, Bere. J. Ocitti, Patrick Kilama among others. They were rushed to St. Mary`s Hospital Lacor in Gulu town in critical condition arrows stuck in their body.
Several residents of Apaa are said to have fled their homes after the attack while some are feared dead or injured in the bushes.
Michael Lakony, the Amuru district chairperson condemned the act and called upon leaders in both Amuru and Adjumani to intervene in prevent the conflict between the Madi and Acholi over the border land from escalating.
The dispute between the border land between Adjumani and Amuru has been on since 2012. Since then more than seven people have lost their lives and several injured.