Prime minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda on Monday held talks with Acholi Paramount chief Rwot Onen David Acana II amid an escalation of violence between the Acholi and Madi over the contested area of Apaa which borders Amuru and Adjumani district.
Four people were killed and 20 injured on Wednesday last week when violence broke out between the Acholi and Madi in Apaa parish, located in a disputed border point between Amuru and Adjumani district. In 2015 government forcefully demarcated by the border point and declared it as located in Adjumani. The decision was however contested by residents on the Amuru side of the border and the Acholi political leadership.
The meeting between Dr Rugunda and Rwot Acana II took place at the latter’s palace in Gulu town. Rugunda said he was on a fact-finding mission on what caused the conflict and how to help the displaced. Rugunda asked the Paramount Chief and other Acholi leaders to come up with the history of the contested area.
Rwot Acana reiterated that only dialogue would bring peace between the two communities (Acholi- Madi) involved in the conflict. He asked for relief food and shelter for the displaced by the conflict.
After his talks with Acana, Prime Minister Rugunda visited wounded victims of the violence who are admitted at St. Mary`s Hospital Lacor in Gulu.
The Prime Minister later proceeded to hold talks with leaders in Amuru district at the Otwee Town council multipurpose hall. He was expected to proceed to Adjumani district.
Several huts were touched in the latest outbreak of violence in Apaa. The conflict began as far back as 2012. Since then it has been simmering, exploding and cooling, only to simmer and explode again.
Commentators say the conflict which started over land risks being tribalised.
2 Comments
The People of Amuru and Adjumani are in the 21stCentury such Land Tribal war with Bows and Arrows,Spears and wooden Sticks are weapons of the Stone Age errors.
1)My Strong Views to the Rt.Hon.Prime Minister Ruahakana Rugunda is to make an URGENT deployment of Police Force based in Pabbo Police Station to be taken a Police Post Unit at the Juka Boundary between Apaa of Pabbo and Apaa of Adjumani where dispute hot spot of Tribal Violence is escalated between Amuru and Adjumani District.
2)Business Protection.It now clear that the Amuru People will block the Roads,Markets,and Food that might be Transported via their District whether it is for Adjumani or South Sudanese Refugees in Adjumani District.This as a result of the Land Hostilities which started in 2012.especially in Apaa Pabbo Market Foods Basket Auction upto Payibi Ground which Operates once in a Month.
3)The Youth,Politicians and the Amuru and Adjumani MPs should make their hard work to coordinate a negotiated mediation to stop the attacks on any Amuru and Adjumani People wherever they are in the Two Districts.Above all,MP of Kilak North Hon.Antony Akol must talk to the MP of Adjumani.The business of the Prime Minister and Rwot Onen David Acana II is moreless for Disastor Relief for the Displaced Apaa Community.
4)Amuru in Diasporas especially in London,United Kingdom will not just keep quite and read in Newspaper the way Apaa Community are being butchered,the Adjumani Youth must talked to very seriosly by their Elders if they dont want the Land Tribal War to escalates to a long term Insecurity and Sanction and closure of both Pabbo and Apaa Roads for any Communication with Adjumani People.
Rt Hon Prime Minister – in Acholi they have many types of snakes – the two headed ones -“doge aryo”, Omat Chak – the one that succkles or loves milk, twol Dwola, Twol ororo etc. Which one are you? We need a simple definition of words to guide this dispute.
We know that OYIMA is an milliped insect and a name given to males in acholi, in Lango oyima is a clan name from which Obote hails. OHIMA is a Twon in Bunyoro and HIMA is a clna in Ankole. All have same etymology – luo.
APAA is LUO. One could use it to refer to “ten or 10” in LUO. Remember Madi adapted several Luo in the names of cultural things. It is even said that the first MADI “King” was an abducted Luo Prince.
The British mixed up things to the extent that I have to share an Identity with banyarwanda, etc. The Kampala govt should butt out. Gen Moses Ali should not SOON forget that in his history, Acholi was a very convenient ID he assumed outside the North.