At least 10,000 people living within Apaa land have been displaced following fresh clashes that broke out in the area in the past week that left 3 people burnt to death. In April 2023, President Museveni formed a committee of 40 people chaired by former Chief Justice Bart Katureebe to resolve the conflict regarding Apaa land in Northern Uganda between the Madi and Acholi tribe, claimed by Adjumani and Amuru Districts and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
The residents of Apaa land rejected the plan by the commission to relocate all residents and compensate 340 household, something many found illegal, irregular and exploitative since they weren’t going to receive full compensation.
Last week, Uganda people’s defence Force (UPDF) ordered atleast 40,000 ilegal settlers to vacate the land in Apaa following fresh clashes. On Tuesday, Brig Michael Kababgo, the UPDF 4th Division commander, told thousands of locals in Adjumani District that those settled between 2014 and 2023 illegally will be forcefully evicted by the army.
Brig Kabango noted that the forest cover soon being depleted due to illegal logging and commercial charcoal activities; he says the army will make sure everyone who entered the forest and game reserves after 2014 leaves immediately as tension have risen between the two tribes. He further added that thousands of people recently occupied the contested land with population increasing from 40,000-80,000 in the past four months.
No conclusive measures have been arrived at to resolve the conflict just like the current tension in Acholi land regarding the Balaalo nomads despite Presidential directive to evict them.
