‘‘Maj. General’’ Caesar Acellam, a former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander has found himself and his family locked in land conflict with neigbours in Bungatira sub county in Gulu district.
The land in dispute measures approximately 50 acres and is found in Lataya- Lagwiny, Punena parish, Bungatira Sub County.
The dispute is between the Gabriel Odur Opiyo, Acellam’s paternal grandfather and the ten other families in the same area.
Speaking to Acholi Times by phone last week, Acellam said close to 50 acres of the land which he claims belongs to his family has been grabbed by neighbours.
However, Marian Atubu, whose family is also claiming the land disputed Acellam’s claim to the land.
Atubu told Acholi Times that the land belongs to her family.
Patrick Kenyi Oyet, the area Local Council One Chairman of Lataya- Lagwiny sub ward said that they[local leaders] have failed to resolve the land matter through mediation despite several efforts.
Acellam is also locked up in another wrangle in which he claims over 1,800 acres where over 50 households are living on. The matter is before the Gulu Chief Magistrate Court.
Gulu Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Capt Santos Okot Lapolo said his office had received a report about the involvement of the former LRA commander and other parties in land conflict. The RDC urged the parties in the conflict to resolve their differences through dialogue.
Abducted in 1986 from Lagwiny village, Bungatira Sub County in Gulu district at age 15, Acellam rose through the rebel ranks to become one of the top commanders of the LRA.
Acellam was captured by the UPDF on the banks of River Mbou in Central African Republic (CAR) as he crossed with his family from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in May 2012.
Unlike other LRA top brass like Thomas Kwoyelo, who is before the International Crime Division of the High Court, the government preferred not to try Acellam.
