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PRESIDENT MUSEVENI RENEWS COMMITMENT TO RESOLVE APAA LAND CONFLICT.

By Bazio Doreen. President Yoweri Museveni is set to visit Adjumani District in the first week of May 2025 to interact with leaders from the Ma’di Subregion and deliberate on how to resolve the Apaa Land Conflict in the East Ma’di Wildlife Reserve.The announcement was made by Maj. Gen. Felix Busizoori, Commander of the UPDF 4th Infantry Division, during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Adjumani district council hall convened by the West Nile Development Association (WENDA) on Thursday, 10th April 2025, over the recent killings in Ukusijoni Sub County that led to the death of 5 people, including a UPDF soldier, and ongoing atrocities and land grabbing in East Ma’di Wildlife Reserve. The meeting was attended by key stakeholders from the Ma’di Subregion and the Area Members of Parliament, including the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Gen. Moses Ali.The meeting followed a resolution by leaders and the community of the Ma’di Subregion to boycott the 23rd Peace celebrations held at Yumbe Boma Ground on 12th April 2025 and instead declare the day for mourning the sons of Ma’di who lost their lives in two separate incidents on 27th March 2025 and 3rd April 2025.However, Gen. Moses Ali appealed to the leaders and community of the Ma’di Subregion to attend the peace day celebrations, as it would give them an opportunity to express their grievances and outcry to the President who would be presiding over the celebrations. He also said that the ceremony would launch a 26 billion compensation package for the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF), who are mainly from the Ma’di Sub Region.“I was informed that you plan to boycott the Yumbe function, but I am here to beg you to attend. The function will, among other things, focus on compensation for ex-combatants of the UNRF, which we started. I therefore request my daughter, Hon. Ababiku, and others to set aside bitterness and attend the event so that our message can reach the President,” Gen. Moses Ali pleaded.While presiding over the 23rd Peace Day celebrations in Yumbe on Saturday, 12th April 2025, President Museveni confirmed that he had spoken to Hon. Ababiku Jesca, the Woman Member of Parliament for Adjumani, and Hon. Feta Geoffrey, the Chairperson of the West Nile Parliamentary Caucus, over the matter.The President further said that he indeed had plans to meet the Members of Parliament from both Acholi and West Nile over the long-standing Apaa land conflict between Amuru and Adjumani districts. He, however, added that the final decision that would guide government action would come from the Judicial Commission of Inquiry established on 3rd April 2023, led by the former Chief Justice, Bart Katureebe."I will meet with Members of Parliament from both the Acholi and West Nile sub-regions, but let it be clear—the real resolution will come from the findings and recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry," the President said.The President also warned leaders from both districts that individuals inciting violence over the Apaa issue will face the full force of the law, adding that he is already aware that some leaders were playing games and manipulating the conflict for personal gain. “I went to the satellite archives and retrieved detailed information from as far back as 1985 about that area. Let me warn you—if this issue is not handled properly, some people may end up in jail,” Museveni cautioned.Meanwhile, according to Maj. Gen. Felix Busizoori, commander of the UPDF 4th Infantry Division, in a bid to restore calm, 15 people have been arrested in connection with the most recent killings, and the UPDF has put in place intense patrols and a curfew while they wait for actualization of the proposal to deploy more soldiers in East Ma’di Wildlife Reserve.“We have arrested fifteen people for inciting violence and land grabbing in East Ma’di Wildlife Reserve, and we are hunting for more suspects,” Maj. Gen. Busizoori revealed.Previously, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, chaired by the former Chief Justice Bart Katureebe, was tasked with investigating the complex land dispute, including issues of ownership, boundary demarcation, casualties, and displacement. Other members include Joyce Gunze Hasasa, Dr. Fred Henry Bateganya, lead counsel George Omunyokol, and Secretary Imelda Adongo.The failure of the commission to hold any known public hearings or meetings since April 2023 to date to sensitize the two communities on the six-month task given to them has continued to escalate the land conflict, with stakeholders raising questions on its effectiveness as a resolution mechanism and on whether the government is committed to decisively and conclusively resolving the conflict for over 14 years now.END.

GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES SHS 26 BILLION FOR COMPENSATION OF OVER 9,000 EX-COMBATANTS IN WEST NILE.

By Bazio Doreen.The government has earmarked shs 26 billion to compensate over 9,000 ex-combatants of the defunct Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF) I, led by Gen. Moses Ali, the current 2nd Deputy Prime Minister, and UNRF II, led by Gen. Bamuze Ali, and the West Nile Bank Front (WNBF), who for the last 23 years have been waiting for their payment.These surrendered their guns on 24th December 2002, after signing a peace agreement that promised them a resettlement package, 10 government positions, and retaining their ranks in the Uganda People’s Defense Forces.While presiding over the 23rd Peace Celebrations in Yumbe District on Saturday, 12th April 2025, as a chief guest, President Yoweri Museveni launched a shs 1 billion compensation package in cash and said that the government will pay shs 13 billion in the next financial year and another shs 12 billion after West Nile votes for the NRM in the forthcoming 2026 elections.“We would have paid the shs 26 billion at once, but we are working on the Nebbi – Arua road, which is in bad shape. It is not true that we had forgotten to pay the ex-combatants because their children have been studying and getting medical care in facilities constructed by the NRM since 1986,” the President explained. President Museveni also commended Gen. Moses Ali, the former WNBF commander, for accepting to cease fire and embrace reconciliation, a move that restored the region on a path of redevelopment.According to the State Minister of Defense (Veteran Affairs), Huda Oleru Obason, some of the ex-combatants have been paid while others await verification. Particularly, the Aringa Obongi Peace Initiative Committee was formed during peace negotiations between the Ugandan government and the Uganda National Rescue Front II (UNRF II).Hon. Oleru expressed her appreciation to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for honoring his commitment to provide a financial “handshake” by allocating Shs 1 billion to members. She added that this was the final installment for the group, asserting that it was the last assistance the government would provide to the Aringa group and similar organizations like the West Nile Bank Front and that no additional claims would be accepted.Regarding the compensation for the UNRF II, Hon. Oleru noted that out of more than 3,000 outstanding claims, 364 had been confirmed and compensated, with funds already transferred to their accounts.Meanwhile, President Museveni also unveiled a monument in memory of the peace agreement signatories.END.  

ADJUMANI DISTRICT COUNCIL GIVES GOVERNMENT ULTIMATUM TO SOLVE APAA CRISIS; REJECTS PROPOSAL FOR CREATION OF A NEW DISTRICT.

By Bazio Doreen. [[{"fid":"198","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false}},"attributes":{"height":464,"width":616,"class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]Adjumani District Chairperson, Hon. Anyama Ben, has given the government a one-month ultimatum to either vacate people from the Apaa area or return the land to the district. Hon. Anyama said that if this is not done, the district will be left with no other choice but to sue the government.Hon. Anyama explained that district leaders were very disappointed to learn about a proposal by Hon. Anthony Akol, Member of Parliament—Kilak North County, to create Apaa District as an exchange for him to cross from the Forum for Democratic Change Party (FDC) to the National Resistance Movement Party (NRM). Hon. Anyama said the district rejects and disassociates itself with this pronouncement and that the government hasn’t consulted them yet on this proposal.Other resolutions:He made the remarks during a district council sitting that took place on 6th March 2025, where a number of other resolutions were also passed while discussing the proposal. The District Council demanded the transfer and investigation by Chief Military Intelligence (CMI) of the UPDF 501 Brigade Commander, Col. David Byaruhanga; petition the NRM Secretariat over the electoral verification done in Apaa without the involvement and notification of Adjumani leaders; and demand to meet President Yoweri Museveni on the issue.The Brigade Commander is accused of causing insecurity in areas of Nyarima, Nyebeole, Eloku, Mundruangwa, Ngoro West and East, Zoka C, Tebeu, and Tanjiri following the eviction of 119 households and grabbing people’s land.Observation:Hon. Anyanzo John Ambayo, the DLC Male representing Ciforo Sub County, also suggested that the district leaders should write to the Chief of Defense Forces and the Ministry of Defense over the accusations made against the Brigade Commander. He also observed that there is a need for a fast track closure of Apaa Market as well as follow-up on the findings of a directive to the Natural Resources Parliamentary Committee by the Speaker for them to visit Zoka Forest.Threats:Adjumani Woman MP, Hon. Ababiku Jesca, in a press briefing, also said, “If the government no longer intends to use Apaa for conservation, let them return the land because it wasn’t given because Adjumani has excess land but for a purpose.”Hon. Ambayo Godfrey Chono, the DLC Male PWDs, has also threatened to mobilize the community to vote against NRM in the forthcoming elections if nothing is done about the resolutions made.Hon. Ondoa Theresa, DLC Female Elderly, also told the august house that she is ready to mobilize women to protest because sometimes decision-making is bureaucratic and implementing the resolutions may delay.Background:In February 2025, MP Akol has crossed from NRM to FDC; but unknown to many, in exchange, he demanded the creation of Apaa District and the reclassification of the East Ma’di Wildlife Reserve to permit human settlement. The East Ma’di Wildlife Reserve land was designated for conservation by the district council in 2002. Last year (2024), 400 houses were destroyed in a fresh clash between the Ma’di and Acholi.END.