Aringa Cultural Leaders Call For Calm as Three Die in Land conflict

Aringa Cultural Leaders Call For Calm as Three Die in Land conflict
Mourners at the burial of Mr Luka Akile Fendru on Wednesday 4-September-2024. Photo by reporter Osuta Yusuf

Story by Osuta Yusuf. 

Yumbe District: Cultural leaders of The Aringa Kingdom in west Nile region has called for peace reconciliation among the two conflicting clans over Land disputes.

Mr Aka Brann one of the leaders of Aringa made this during the burial of one the victims who were killed in the wrangle.

The land wrangle is between Oluba Aliba Clan in Odravu West Sub-county and Oluba Langi clan in Ariwa Sub-county and also in Kulikulinga Town Council. 

In his remarks, Mr. Aka also condemned arrest and jailing of the culprits, he proposed for a peace dialogue to address the issue.

"Arresting culprits, going to court won't bring everlasting solution." He added

At the burial on 4th of September, 2024, hundreds of mourners including leaders turned up to pay their tributes to murdered Refugee Camp Landlord.

One of them is a parish priest for Odravu Catholic Parish, Fr Tom Amati Walter equally echoed similar message.

The clergyman urged mourners to leave their differences and embrace peace in handling conflicts.

Born in 1930, Mr Luka Akile Fendru was reportedly shot with an arrow on 19-August-2024 during a land conflict in Bolomoni Village, Odravu West Sub-county in Yumbe District, where some people from Oluba Langi clan in Ariwa Sub-county and also from Kulikulinga Town are claiming part of his 600 acres of land in Bolomoni Village.

In 2016 when refugees from south Sudan came to Yumbe, Mr Luka Akile Fendru signed an MoU with Uganda government to voluntarily offer part of his 600 acres of land to settle refugees. 

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (SP) Stephen Ojok who is the OC Station for Yumbe District said they have deployed security officers in the area and also engaged residents in some brief community baraza to sensitize and urge them to live in harmony.

On 12, September 2024, clergymen, security officials and notable Stakeholders have set to have a dialogue meeting with the two rival parties to address the issues.