Residents in three villages in the contested Apaa have decried the continuous attacks and forceful evictions from their lands.
In the most recent times, at least over 140 people have been forced out of their homes. The most affected areas are Goro B, Kala-cut, Rwot Orono and Acholi-Ber.
Francis Owor, the LCI Chairperson of Zoka, which is among the villages that has faced constant attacks and forceful eviction says that in Rwot Oromo village, one Justo Opira has been forced out of his land with the people from the Msdi community constructing 20 houses on his land.
Bosco Atube, is also another victim of the forceful eviction with over 40 people invading his land, and constructing houses from his compound and spreading across his land.
The locals have as a result called for the intervention of Stephen Drani Izakare, the Paramount Chief of Madi, and Major Travor Kibuuka, who were recently set free by the DPP to rescue them.
According to Owor, as a community, when the two were actively engaging them in peaceful co-existence, the community members both Acholi and Madi lived happily and in relative peace.
"we even had people living and using land freely regardless of their tribes, for example, one Eugene Opira gave part of his land to people from Itirikwa Sub County because Travor and Drani were continuously engaging us to peacefully co-exist”, Owor said.
When contacted, Drani said that continuous attacks are being orchestrated by some leaders from Adjumani district who are pointed at grabbing land.
Drani said that he would continue to engage the community members in the contested area to peacefully coexist and wait for government announcement on their fate
Recently, locals from Apaa petitioned the Gulu 4th Division Commander to redeploy Kibuuka back to Apaa saying his presence in the contested area had cultivated some peace.
