Oyam, Uganda: Police have arrested a 25-year-old man accused of hacking his elder brother to death over a land dispute in Oyam District, ending nearly a month-long manhunt that had unsettled the community.
The suspect, Innocent Adungu, a resident of Amiatigo Village in Otwal Sub-county, was picked up in Mukono District after allegedly going into hiding following the January 10, 2026 killing of his brother, Phillip Erong, 29.
According to clan leaders, members of the Okii Amat clan worked closely with security agencies to trace and apprehend the suspect through mobile phone tracking.
“As a clan, we condemned this act from the very beginning. Land issues should never be resolved through bloodshed,” said Sadam Okullu Onimo, the clan spokesperson, while addressing journalists in Adyel Cell, Ojwina Division in Lira City.
“We immediately engaged the police and provided all the information we had. Through mobile phone tracking, the suspect was traced to Mukono, where he was arrested,” he added.
Clan leaders revealed that elders had previously attempted to mediate the land wrangle between the two brothers, but tensions reportedly escalated in the days leading to the fatal attack.
“This is a tragedy that has left our clan in deep sorrow. These are brothers born of the same parents. It is heartbreaking that a misunderstanding over land could end in such violence,” Mr Onimo said.
He urged communities to seek mediation and involve cultural institutions before disputes spiral out of control.
According to police sources, Adungu is currently detained at Mukono Central Police Station and is expected to be transferred to Oyam District to face murder charges.
The arrest comes amid growing concern over rising murder cases in the Lango sub-region, many linked to domestic conflicts and land disputes.
Local leaders have repeatedly appealed for strengthened grassroots conflict resolution mechanisms to prevent violence. “Our land is our heritage, but no piece of land is worth a human life,” Mr Onimo said, calling for unity and calm as the matter proceeds to the formal justice system.
Residents of Amiatigo Village remain in shock as they await the suspect’s return to Oyam for trial, while clan leaders say they are focused on supporting the bereaved family.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
