Four people have been killed while 35 grass-thatched huts razed following an attack by unknown assailants in the disputed Apaa Township.
The deceased were attacked on Wednesday by assailants reportedly wielding bows, arrows and clubs in Te-Okono village between Acholi ber and Punu dyang.
Local leaders have identified those killed as Walter Ocan 28, Justine Odong 53, Daniel Oloya 31, and Maurensio Obwona 50.
Their bodies were recovered on Thursday with piles of clubs abandoned near them.
The attack also left four people Injured. Two are receiving medical treatment at Mungula Health Center IV while the others have been rushed to St Mary’s Hospital Lacor.
Charles Okoya, the Vice Chairperson of Apaa Sub-Parish in Apaa Township said that the assailants numbering about 100 men had camped in the area for one week.
Kilak North MP who doubles as the Acholi Parliamentary Group Chairperson, Anthony Akol condemned the attack and called for speedy investigations by security so that the culprits are apprehended.
He says the attack undermines concerted efforts initiated by several stakeholders in the region and Central Government to ensure peace prevails over the disputed territory.
In response to this situation, Hon. Gilbert Olanya, with the former MP Aruu County Hon Odonga Otto, also devised a plan to retrieve the bodies from Adjumani. Olanya managed to obtain four coffins matching the number of deceased individuals and headed to Adjumani Hospital with two ambulances. Along the way, one of the ambulances, belonging to Hon Gilbert Olanya, was detained by the police in Apaa, preventing them from taking the bodies from Adjumani Hospital.
Nevertheless, Olanya successfully made it to Adjumani with the other ambulance, although the DPC initially resisted allowing them to take the bodies back to their homes. After several attempts, they were eventually granted permission and transported the bodies to Gulu army barracks for postmortem.
The Apaa Land conflict appears to be escalating, with criticism directed at the President of Uganda for not addressing the issue and instead focusing on personal matters, such as attending his daughter's crusade in Gulu, while the atrocities in Apaa persist.
