A year later, commission of inquiry into Apaa conflict yet to hit the ground

Concerns are growing in Acholi sub region on why the judicial commission of inquiry on Apaa land conflict is yet to set foot in the affected area.

The commission appointed on April,3, 2023 by President Yoweri Museveni was meant to put an end to the continued bloodshed in Apaa.

After overseeing the swearing in  commission of inquiry  in August 2023, President Yoweri Museveni had placed his hopes on the commission to be the best medicine to the continued violent land conflict among the people residing in Apaa.

The Kilak North Member of Parliament Anthony Akol who sits on the budget committee says shs7 billion was approved for the commission to commence it's investigations but one year later no work has been done.

"We don't know whether they have been going to Adjumani district or meeting the leaders from the Madi community" says Akol.

He went ahead and said the UPDF are involved in the massive sale of the land.

"To make matters worse, even the UPDF involved in Apaa and the police, are now involved in the land sale."

"We were very happy at that time aware that the matter of Apaa, the terrible killing will come to an end but to our disappointment, up to now, the commission of inquiry have never started their work and never stepped in Apaa. We are wondering, yet the president gave them only six months," says Gilbert Olanya the Member of Parliament Kilak South.

"I don't know how long the judiciary commission of inquiry can take, are they crawling? Are they moving on air?, Have they gotten lost on the direction of Apaa, Amuru and Adjumani?. This is a small matter" says Michael Lakony the LC5 of Amuru District.

Gilbert Olanya urges government to clearly state it's stand incase they need to offer land to an investor.

"If government needs the land, let them find a proper way of handing it over to an investor. Not by intimidation, disguising because we Acholi people are open to discussion, when you need land, come we  negotiate with the land owners," says Olanya.

The Apaa land was originally believed to be in the Acholi district of Amuru, but, in 2017 the minister of local government Tom Butime declared the 40 mile square piece of land to be located in Adjumani district.

In 2016 Anthony Akol was among the Amuru leaders who were elected by the people of Apaa to different political positions.

However, Henry Komakech Kilama, a transitional justice lawyer in Gulu city, says any delay by the judicial commission of inquiry to commence it's work will only escalate the violence in Apaa.

"I think the faster they do it, the better. They should  start some plenary  processes on ground because the commission of inquiry cannot stop any violence on it's own" says  Komakech .