By Anzoo Evaline.

Residents of Ngoro West zone in Zoka Parish, Itirikwa Sub-county in Adjumani District have raised serious concerns over what they describe as growing tension between the Madi and Acholi communities, blaming a Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) officer stationed at Zoka Barracks for allegedly fueling the conflict.

Community members claim that the situation has escalated due to land disputes and alleged interference by security personnel in land management matters.

Adibaku Joseph, the secretary of the Madi community living in Zoka, said the situation has increasingly become tense as the community believes their land rights are being undermined.

“The land management situation in Zoka has been taken over by the UPDF in Zoka directed by the IO Captain Mohammed Mugyenyi affecting both the central area that is the center the center and various zones of the Madi community farms,” Adibaku said.

According to him, the alleged involvement of the officer has led to displacement within the community.

“This has led to issues such as displacement where huts have been burnt down and replaced with the settlement for Acholi people from Amuru and other areas outside Amuru district,” he added.

Adibaku further claimed that attempts to report the matter to police have not yielded results.

“Wherever such complaints are reported to the Zoka police, they failed to respond citing that the IO is above their rank and they are unable to resolve issues related to his actions,” he explained.

The community is also raising concerns about the sale of land in the area, which they say is worsening the conflict.

“Additionally, the sale of community land in Zoka is causing conflict within the community. As agreed, the resolutions the community have, the IO is directly involved in land management including overseeing land sales by Lomu Citi well. While disregarding community land rights, given these circumstances, the community is calling for the IO remove from his position,” Adibaku stated.

However, Captain Muhammad Mugyenyi, the Intelligence Officer stationed at Zoka Army Barracks, strongly denied the allegations and insisted that he is only protecting government land from encroachers.

“I have don’t have any plot here or even have cattle which belonged to me and here but I’m rather protecting the reserve areas which people wants to encroach,” Captain Mugyenyi said.

The district authorities have also weighed in on the matter, providing historical context regarding the disputed land.

Adjumani District Land Surveyor, Akuku Charles, explained that the land has long been part of protected areas.

“Previously this entire area was a protected land and it was referred to as East Madi Control Hunting Area. 875 km out of 1702 was the degazette and the remaining 827 square kilometers was now gazzeted as East Madi wildlife reserve,” he said.

He further clarified that although part of the land was later degazzetted due to increasing population pressure, it does not belong to individuals. He added that the land remains under the jurisdiction of Adjumani District.

Meanwhile, the 501 Brigade Commander based in Zoka, Colonel Nathan Bainomugisha, called for calm among residents as government works on finding a lasting solution.

“I would only want to request you that be patient and respect the resolutions and ideas discussed here by district authorities of Adjumani,” he said.

“As your leaders in security we want to ensure peace particularly in this area of Apaa and Zoka we were promised to have a visit of commission of inquiry from government to come and visit Zoka and Apaa and advise government on the way forward of this area,” he added.

Col. Bainomugisha also warned community members against selling or renting land in the disputed area.

“So, my advice to you community members is stop renting the land under court. Kindly don’t sell this land. Here there is land for NFA national Forest Authority and land for Uganda Wildlife Authority under game reserve and the land for community and then the individual land. So, avoid transaction of any land or renting any land in this area that can cause conflict,” he said.

He further assured residents that allegations against the officer will be investigated.

“As for Captain Mugyenyi, I’m going to sit down and investigate his movement, his actions. If I find he has any connection in what you have been alleging, I will punish him,” he stated.

However, he urged residents not to blame the entire UPDF institution for the actions of one officer.

“But don’t involve UPDF because of an individual. UPDF is your force. Is Uganda people’s force to ensure If one person in UPDF makes a mistake or makes a statement that is against the position of the institution, that person is taken to either courts of law or put to disciplinary committee. The force is your force because you have your brothers in it. You have your sisters in it. Don’t generalize,” he said.

Adjumani Resident District Commissioner, Toko Swaib, also emphasized that security authorities are not taking sides in the conflict.

 “I want to say security although some of you have your mind that we have taken side we can’t take side and then I also want you people to know that we don’t have power on land ownership,” he said.

“Our is to guide you how you can best use your land peacefully, harmoniously with other communities who are interested but they have also entered in a very rightful way and I want you people to know at the beginning that land in Uganda today belongs to the people from 1995,” he added.

He further explained that the law allows Ugandans to settle anywhere in the country.

“And the law also says any other Ugandan is free to settle in any part of the country. Our coming here is to create peace,” the RDC noted.

Despite these assurances from authorities, residents of Ngoro West said, they are still hoping for urgent intervention from government to address the land dispute and restore peaceful coexistence between the Madi and Acholi communities in Zoka and Apaa areas.

END.