Killing and abduction take tools in Apaa, as the Sebogabo regime scamper and lock
up in a death possibility to opt for 615 square Kilometer land in East
UGANDA: ACHOLI STICKS TO SETTLE IN APAA, DEMANDS FRESH BOUNDARY REOPENING
Madi Game Reserve. Or descended to Guns Boat Diplomacy, “President
Museveni Despotic 32 Years hallmark,” a cases in point. The Okello
Tito Lutwa 1985, Nairobi Peace Joke, the Lord’s Resistance Army 2006
Juba Peace Joke, the Black Star News political analyst argues.
The third Series of Political Ecology of Conflict and Violence in Apaa
Ethnographic Approach
By Okumu Langol Livingstone
GULU-UGANDA: Prof. Daniel Komakech, Apaa Acholi Team-Position Paper
revealed that River Ceri/ Seri and river Juko/Zoka are quite
interesting here. Both rivers are shared by Pabbo and Amuru
Sub-Counties and so, Apaa is in Labala Parish in Pabbo as well as in
Amuru Sub-Counties, the paper argued.
Dr. Komakech argued that although the current contested issues is,
Madi who are stooge Museveni’s military agent for new colonization in
Northern Uganda. Through them Museveni’s military occupational forces
has extended their boundary to River Omee II, 41 square Kilometer
inside Amuru District.
He reiterated that, meanwhile, Laropi is between Atyak and Adjumani,
about 14 km from Dzaipi Sub-County to Laropi and 36 km from Atyak to
Larupi. This in effect confirms the oral history on both sides, of an
intricate nature of the physical and emotional character of the
boundary terrain.
Dr. Komakech says this account was agreeable to many alternative
Acholi accounts, except that the Acholi account put river Juka (Acholi
word for end/ending which in the war discourse, meant, ending the war,
confirming that there was actually a war, as symbolized by boundary).
“It is this intricate relation, as an elder from Dzaipi across river
Ayugi, to argue that, that has forced the Madi clans of Oyapele and
Alur clans in Adjumani to insist their belonging to Amuru district and
not Adjumani and, paying allegiance to Rwot (chief) of Atyak and not
Madi chief.” Dr. Komakech paper read.
Dr. Komakech on Apaa Acholi Team Paper warned that to this far, it is
difficult therefore, to maintain the “Settler-native” narrative to the
Apaa conflict. Because, there seem to be distinct boundary and yet
mutual interaction based on the core family and blood relations as a
result of intermarriage. In the case, E.D. Green’s “nativism” (2006)
as local claims to indignity based on local rather than national
sensitivity, is flawed.
“It is on this that we take another direction in angling the Apaa
question, a political ecology frame.” The Gulu University Don equated.
Political Ecology of Conflict and Violence in Apaa: Ethnographic
Prof Komakech says like the case of Kibalaale that pities the Banyoro
against the Bakiga, we see a configuration outside the
“settler-native” simplistic trajectory. What is clear is, the
political ecology in which we instrumentalise to serve the end of
capitalizing nature.
“It is this instrumentality logic, whose processes of fracturing
communities, and in our case, Apaa, is thinkable and regionalized.
Otherwise, the Madi and Acholi in their original state, are in a
friendly interaction and amicable exchanges, both symbolic and
material. It is therefore the contextual approach of adopting
ethnographic methodologies rather than just extracting or paraphrasing
information (Staler,2010), that reached us to this conclusion, which
conclusion has a strong base in the practical of the people of Madi
and Acholi, Dr. Komakech warned.
Visit to Apaa
When Museveni dictator opted and appointed Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda during
his visit to Apaa. Acholi-Madi Apaa Teams was form. Among the Apaa
Acholi Team who has been appointed are; Dr. Daniel Komakech Chairman,
Dan Kidega former Speaker East African Assembly Acholi Vice Chairman,
Prof. Elisabeth, Counsel Jimmy Ojok, Ms. Aber Oyat Head Mistress
Kitgum Y.Y Okot, Michael Lakony Chairman Local Government for Amuru
District, Hon. Akol Anthony Member of Parliament for Kilak South.
Dr. Komakech says during their community consultation with the
community of Apaa, they learnt that Acholi community actually had no
conflict with Madi community of Apaa and surrounding Madi community in
the neighborhood of Ofua in Adjumani, he said.
Adding that this was confirmed by local leaders during the meeting, it
was then the perennial question asked by members of communities on the
rational of mediation talks between Acholi and Madi. The conflict, the
community emphatically argued, was between the community on one hand,
and a combined forces comprising of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Dr. Komakech insisted that UWA whose weapon of conflict and violence
is the brutal use of the Army, Police, and arrow-men supported by
political elites. The Apaa community believed that the arrow men were
ferried from as far as South Sudan and some West Nile Districts,
arguing that they said the talks should have been between the team
representing Apaa community and UWA or Government of Uganda.
“This position was supported by the fact that on arrival at Apaa
Trading Centre, the team witnessed and was encouraged, by a large
number of people from Adjumani peacefully loading their trucks with
foodstuff bought from Apaa main market. True to what is fairly common
knowledge, we heard about the social bond that existed between the two
communities. Even when Acholi community was the majority of the
residents of Apaa, they continued to live peacefully or suffered
together with the minority counterpart in Apaa.” Dr. Komakech said.
He revealed that to reinforce this, the community mentioned thirty
predominantly Madi households who also suffered together with Acholi
households in Apaa.
The elders from Adjumani Ofua were early a host to mostly Sudanese
refugees-Kuku. These Kuku and some other Sudanese expended to Aliwara,
Madi community claimed that the genesis of Apaa conflict originated
from those. They pointed fingers and accused Gen. Moses Ali that he is
the man behind, since he is a Bar from Sudan.
Apaa Acholi Team-Position Paper presented by Dr. Daniel Komakech
exposed rot in Museveni tyranny and his under hand method using Gen.
Moses Ali fellow refugee. Both Gen. Museveni and Gen. Ali parents were
asylum seekers who were given refugees status by the British Colonial
Government in 1940s.
Prof Komakech argued that these people of Kuku tribe and Bar tribe
over time bought land and got Uganda national Identity Cards.
Likewise, Tutsi who also benefited as refugees from Kyakabale refugees
settlement in Western Uganda bought land and got Uganda national
Identity Cards.
Adding that however, the problem is, whereas the elders from Madi say
although the refugees bought land in Ofua and Aliwara, they continued
to cross into the fertile Apaa to farm. The Kuku well known government
official, have huge chunk of land in Aliwara, the document indicates.
Dr. Komakech says related to this, there is also a strong feeling
among the Madi that they are not comfortable with the Sudanese from
refugees, especially, the Kuku, owning such huge pieces of land.
“The Madi complain that it is these former refugees causing rift
between them and Acholi” Komakech said.
Dr. Komakech reiterated that their finding on Apaa land conflict when
they visited the areas, in their view, the Apaa community strongly
expressed their ownership of Apaa land, not just as land but as
customary land. They offered evidence to show that they live, paid
taxes and voted in Kilak County from Apaa before and after the British
Protectorate.
He argued that however, they expressed shock at the unprecedented
levels of destruction and violence suffered in the hands of UWA state
machinery; 18 people have so far been killed, 814 grass thatched
houses and 13 schools burnt, while properties have been destroyed or
looted.
“It was reported that some people had their houses burnt five times
since the violent evictions began, a sign that they have nowhere to
turn to. They however reiterated that they were not seeking a favor
from government but only a just, fair and humane treatment that every
Ugandan deserves. We were informed that the culprits-UWA, some section
of the Army and Police, and spear or machetes wielding local (mostly
of Sudanic origin and Kuku) were in a supplicated subtle who seemed
too powerful even to be brought to order by Presidential and Prime
Minister’s ceasefire, leaving the Acholi in Apaa left with no choice
but to suffer.” Dr. Komakech Apaa Acholi Team Position read in part.
Forth editions will explain how the Ofua was earlier a host to most
Sudanese refugees and are behind the Apaa land conflict.
Ends.
