One injured, 15 houses burnt in land dispute

A resident looks at burning huts after an attack by purported members of the Mbaraka clan.

  Saturday, August 24   2013 at  01:00

in

ARUA

A land wrangle in Arua District turned ugly when members of Mbaraka clan reportedly attacked the Nunu clan, seriously injuring one person and burning15 houses.

At least 50 people were displaced following the Thursday incident in Odramacaku, Ayivuni Sub-county. Several gardens and property worth millions of shillings were destroyed. According to a witness, Mr Luke Awuzu, the Mbaraka clan members, who were reportedly armed with machetes, bows and arrows, destroyed anything in their path.

“The Mbaraka clan members attacked one of our brothers and when we informed the police, they did not respond swiftly. This land given to us by our grandparents,” Mr Awuzu said. Some of the people displaced have sought refuge at their relatives’ homes while others are camped under trees and verandahs.

Security forces intervene
Police officers from the field force unit in Arua Central arrived later and stopped the violence.
They used teargas to disperse the attackers, who retreated into the bushes but they later returned and launched a second attack which was stopped by UPDF soldiers who reinforced the police.

The regional police commander, Mr Fredrick Ssegirinya, told the Saturday Monitor that they had arrested a man suspected to be the organiser of the attack. “We were tricked by a man who claims ownership of the land that it was the rival clan who want to cause chaos. But when we learnt he was the one, we arrested him to assist in investigations,” Mr Ssegirinya said. He said people should settle land matters amicably to ensure peaceful co-existence in society.

Recently, a similar clash between Pajuru and Opia clans in Vurra County led to bloodshed and destruction of homes. There have been wrangles between the two clans over the land since 1999.