Blood over boundaries: West Nile leaders condemn deadly Apaa land clashes

The security committee of the West Nile sub-region has confirmed and strongly condemned a deadly attack in Ofu East, Ukusijoni sub-county in Adjumani district.

In the above area, four people were killed and two others left with severe injuries following renewed violence over the long-standing Apaa land dispute between the Madi and Acholi communities.

The incident adds to a troubling pattern of escalating clashes in the region, with leaders warning that the decades-old conflict is spiralling into more frequent and deadly confrontations.

Asea Collin, Police PRO for the North West Nile region said: “For the last two weeks, we’ve been having an incident of land conflict. That is the people of Madi and Acholi, they have been fighting over the issue of land and so far, we registered five deaths and some victims are getting treatment.”

Security officials said the violence has unfolded in cycles of attack and retaliation, leaving communities living in fear and uncertainty.

Bakole Rasual, the Regional Internal Security Officer (RISO), detailed the sequence of events that led to the latest killings:

“On 8th April, this year, two people from the Acholi community, one of whom was badly injured. There’s a child who was killed in the process. As a retaliation, the Acholi community on 10th April this year also attacked the Madi people.”

RISO said attackers ended up killing three people and others were injured. “These are unbecoming cultures of civilisation. If we are human beings, if we are northerners, if indeed we feel ourselves are useful, why do we kill ourselves? A very unfortunate situation.”

Military leadership in the area has also weighed in, emphasising that the Apaa conflict goes beyond a simple land disagreement.

Col. Bianomugisha Nathan, Brigade Commander for Apaa and Zoka, noted:

“This Security issue has weighed heavily on our people. And we must acknowledge that the issue of Apaa is more than just a land issue. Yes, for decades, it has been a flash point of conflict between the Acholi and Madi communities.

“This dispute has its roots in the colonial boundary demarcation of 1911 which left Apaa an ambiguous press.”

Local authorities have called for calm while condemning the loss of life and urging communities to avoid retaliatory violence.

The Resident District Commissioner of Adjumani, Toko Swaib, strongly denounced the killings.

“I want to condemn in the strongest terms what happened last week in Ofu East, where we have lost four lives. It started on Tuesday when a baby was found dead, a baby about 1 year old. And then that was followed by an attack where a total of five people were attacked of which three died.

“And of these three who died, one is a gentleman called Mamawi Christopher somebody from Moyo. The two ladies who died – one was taken to Obongi but the other one is in Adjumani. I want to appeal to the communities that revenge is not a solution. Leave it to the authorities to manage.”

Leaders across the West Nile sub-region are now calling for urgent interventions to restore peace and find a lasting solution to the Apaa dispute, warning that continued violence threatens not only lives but also the fragile coexistence between the neighbouring communities.