Gov’t promises to release 40 Apaa Residents jailed in Adjumani , Arua

By Ivan Tolit

The Government through the Ministries  of Security and that of  Justice and Constitutional Affairs have promised to release 40 people arrested from Apaa Township in Itirikwa sub County, Adjumani district last year by security operatives in connivance with Adjumani district leaders over land.

This comes following concerns raised by Gilbert Olanya, the Kilak South Member of Parliament, Amuru District that 40 of their community members were arrested and charged with murder for refusing to vacate part of the disputed 40 square kilometers Apaa land by the local leaders in Adjumani district

According to Olanya, of the 40, 25 are being detained in Openjiji Government Prisons in Adjumani District while 15 are being detained in Arua City.

The Member of Parliament made the revelation during a meeting organized by the Office of the Prime Minister in Amuru Multi-purpose Hall in Amuru District on Wednesday to pronounce the government stand on the long dispute over the Apaa land.  

In response Major General Jim Muhwezi, the Minister of Security said his office is going to work with the Amuru district leaders to ensure that the 40 residents are set free and their properties recovered while the officers behind their arrest will be dealt with.

Nobert Mao, the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs condemned such arrests and assured the leaders that the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs will work on the release of the 40 victims.

Apaa Township has been at the epicenter of armed conflicts between the Madi and Acholi tribe members of Adjumani and Amuru over its ancestral ownership.

Uganda Wildlife Authorities (UWA) and National Forestry Authority (NFA) also claimed ownership of parts of the area.

 Since 2017, 10 people died and many others were injured following clashes between the Acholi and Madi communities, with the Acholi suffering the largest numbers of casualties.