Nwoya electricity project renews Alur-Acholi land row

Wrangling over a piece of land between the Jonam community in Pakwach District and their Acholi neighbours in Nwoya could slow the establishment of an electricity transmission line to West Nile Sub-region.
Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) is building a 132kv high voltage power line meant to stabilise power supply in the sub-region.
Daily Monitor has learnt that the two tribes are embroiled in conflict over who should benefit from a compensation scheme by UETCL.
The land measuring 9sqkm at Yagopino, in Gotapwoyo Sub-county, Nwoya District is being claimed by the two districts.
Last year, UETCL assessed and listed 45 project affected persons reportedly of Acholi origin but in December a new group of 65 people turned up from Pakwach demanding to be compensated saying they are the right owners of the land.
“This forced us (UETCL) to stall the works to allow proper consultations and involvement of the authorities of the area,” Mr Alex Mukasa, an official with UETCL, told Daily Monitor last week.
“We are sure the leaders can handle the matter fast and peacefully so that works are not frustrated by that conflict,” he added.
Ms Jane Avur Pacuto, the Pakwach Woman Member of Parliament, advised the parties to use the grass-roots leadership structures to establish the actual owners of the land before submissions for compensation are done.
“The Jonam and Acholi have for long been co-existing and the tension should not sabotage development coming to the area,” she said.
The contested land is part of former Aswa-Lolim reserve that was degazetted in 1972 and has since been under the management of Nwoya District land board. But Ms Avur says she was not aware of any fresh wrangle over the land and that she could not justify claims by the Jonam community over the land as majority of them who crossed to Nwoya were hiring land for farming.
Ms Pamela Byoruganda, the UETCL spokesperson, acknowledged the conflict but said: “I’m waiting for an up-to-date report of that area and the recommendations in place. Right now, I cannot make any comment.”
In an interview with Daily Monitor, Mr Zeru Abuka, the Nwoya District land board chairperson, said the tension between the two tribes was being escalated by the influence of Pakwach District authorities.
“In meetings we are holding with the project-affected persons, officials from Pakwach want to be part of them yet the land is in Nwoya,’’ he said.
The Nwoya Resident District Commissioner, Ms Agnes Akello Ebong, tasked local authorities to immediately verify and update their records to establish the rightful owners of the land.
“We don’t want a scenario where the project is delayed and rightful land owners miss to get the payment because wrong ones took it, let the matter be cleared without wasting time or they would miss the pay,” Ms Akello stated.
But Mr Abuka explained that only land owners with titles issued through the district land board will be compensated by UETCL.
“We are not bothered about the tension being caused by Jonam communities from Pakwach because the land has since been managed by the district and we know very well the true owners who will receive the compensation,” he said.

Background
In 2014, a meeting convened by then Minister without Fortpolio Richard Todwong turned rowdy, when the Jonam accused the leadership of Nwoya of threatening to evict them. Mr Todwong closed the meeting prematurely after the Jonam chiefs started attacking Nwoya and threatening to ‘curse’ them.