Amuru, Uganda: The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has intensified efforts to restore calm in the long-standing Apaa land conflict, urging restraint, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence among communities in Amuru and Adjumani districts.
At a high-level community engagement held Monday in Itirikua Sub-county, Apaa-Aliwara Village, military, political, and community leaders delivered a unified message: the violence must stop.
The dialogue, organised by the 501 Brigade under the 4th Infantry Division, comes amid renewed clashes over disputed land boundaries that have left a trail of deaths, injuries, displacement, and destruction of property.
“We convened this meeting to calm the situation and engage both communities in meaningful dialogue,” said Captain David Kamya, Public Information Officer for the 4th Infantry Division. “The tensions have persisted for too long, and the consequences of loss of life, displacement, and destruction are too grave to ignore.”
Kamya noted that beyond the human toll, the conflict is undermining livelihoods and stalling development.
“The continued conflict is affecting livelihoods and delaying essential services. Development cannot thrive where there is instability,” he added.
501 Brigade Commander Col. Nathan Bainomugisha urged residents to prioritise unity, warning that prolonged conflict threatens the future of both communities.
“Peaceful coexistence is not negotiable,” he said. “Both communities must understand that stability and development depend on unity and shared responsibility.”
He tasked local leaders to take a central role in mediation, emphasising that sustainable peace must be community-driven.
Amuru Resident District Commissioner Osborn Geoffrey Oceng echoed the call, urging residents to use lawful mechanisms to resolve disputes.
“We must move away from confrontation and embrace dialogue. There are legal frameworks in place to handle land matters,” Oceng said.
Adjumani RDC Tokyo Swaib stressed the importance of preserving longstanding community ties. “These are neighbouring communities that have lived side by side for years. We must protect that relationship by choosing peace and understanding,” he noted.
North West Nile Regional Police Commander Joseph Mwesige issued a stern warning against acts likely to escalate tensions. “We will not tolerate illegal land occupation, intimidation, or destruction of property. Anyone found engaging in such acts will face the full force of the law,” he warned.
The Apaa land dispute remains one of Northern Uganda’s most persistent conflicts, rooted in historical boundary disagreements and competing claims over land ownership.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2025, land-related conflicts surged by 67% compared to 2024, with 663 cases recorded nationwide, many concentrated in Northern Uganda, highlighting the urgency of sustained interventions.
Local leaders and residents who attended the meeting expressed cautious optimism, calling for continuous engagement rather than one-off interventions.
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.
