New Jerusalem Tabernacle church run by the father of former rebel priestess Alice Lakwena has been accused of illegally occupying 120 acres of land.
Paban clan in Paibona in Aswa County Gulu district accuse the church of erecting its church premises and worship materials on one and half acres of the land situated in Paban in Kot-Omolo Sub Ward Acut Omer Parish in Paibona Sub County.
New Jerusalem Tabernacle Church is owned by Severino Lukoya, the father of former leader of the Holy Spirit Movement rebel group, Alice Lakwena.
Justine Oloya, the clan leader said in an interview that Lukoya connived with a section of the clan members to construct his church on the clan land without consulting its leaders.
Oloya explained that Lukoya last year sought the clan`s authority to use the land. The clan however denied him permission. Despite that, Oloya says, Lukoya continued on with construction of his church.
Another clan member, Denis Oola, said they are now seeking assistance from Paibona Sub County leadership to eject Lukoya from their land.
Lukoya has denied the allegations saying the land was offered to him by the family of John Lam who is a member of the clan.
Mr Lam supports. He said the land belongs to him and that he offered it to Lukoya because he is a member of the New Jerusalem Tabernacle church.
Richard Watmon, the Paibiona Sub County interim chairperson acknowledged being aware of the matter and that his office was already handling it.
Residents of Acut Omer Parish have repeatedly asked Okoya and his church to vacate their area arguing that his church is a nuisance. In May they burnt his worship materials and in early September, residents matched Lukoya out of the village.
