Apaa land dispute: Justice Owiny Dollo asked to chair committee after death of Oulanyah

NEBBI– Local leaders from Adjumani and Amuru districts have requested Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo to take up the role left by the late Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah in the quest to find a lasting solution to the Apaa land dispute.

In 2019, President Yoweri Museveni appointed, the late Jacob Oulanyah, the then Deputy Speaker of Parliament to chair a committee comprising of members from Acholi, Madi and West Nile sub regions to find a lasting solution to a dispute which has left over 20 people dead, scores injured and properties destroyed following violent fights.

Michael Lakony, the Amuru district Chairperson said with the legal background and knowledge that Owiny Dollo has, leave alone his understanding of peaceful conflict resolution, having him head the committee would be of great “importance”.

Lakony believes that the fact that Owiny Dollo, who was a close friend to the Oulanyah, must have shared some insights on how best the conflict could be resolved.

Ben Anyama, the LCV Chairperson of Adjumani district says that all they want to see as the leadership of Adjumani district is peaceful coexistence between the Acholi and Madi in the Apaa area.

According to Anyama, regardless of where one comes from, the border dispute which has led violent clashes needs to be resolved, for productive agriculture, being the major activity in the area to continue.

He observes that as a result of prevalent attacks, the livelihoods of thousands have been affected, with some people not being able to enjoy fundamental human rights such as education, health among others.

While speaking during a special regional council meeting organised to eulogise the late Speaker Oulanyah in Lalogi,Omoro district in April this year, Owiny Dollo offered himself and said he needed funds to  organise regional meetings in which issues affecting the development of the region can be addressed.

The Chief Justice was speaking in the aftermath of a series of meetings called by Museveni with Amuru and Adjumani leaders over the border issue, which he says can be handled locally.

“I wonder why every time our leaders run to the State House whenever there`s is a problem in Apaa, is that the only place where you can solve this dispute? Stop going to the state House over this issue because the Acholi and the Madi people are brothers and sisters,” he said.

The Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Gen David Muhoozi, recently blamed political leaders for exacerbating conflicts between Madi and Acholi communities over Apaa land.

Apaa land turned contentious when Government in 2017 demarcated boundaries between Amuru and Adjumani districts. Apaa village was placed under Adjumani, to the dismay of the Acholi people from Amuru with whom they have inhabited the land for decades. Since then, the attacks have been recurring as Madi community want the Acholi people pushed out of the land.

https://thecooperator.news/acholi-district-councils-tasked-to-enact-ordinances-to-protect-land/

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