The victims who included the elderly, children, and women of the Pobura clan from Lobalokodi village had sought refuge at Kwon Cok Primary School in 2021 following a land row with their neighbors of the Pubira clan.
More than 150
people who were displaced following a land row have finally agreed to vacate Kwon
Cok Primary School in Madi Opei Sub County, Lamwo district.
The victims
who included the elderly, children, and women of the Pobura clan from Lobalokodi
village had sought refuge at the school in 2021 following a land row with their
neighbors of the Pubira clan.
The land
dispute between the two clans dates back to 1995 when the two conflicting
groups started rivaling over an estimated 30,000 hectares of communal land in
Oryang village.
The Lamwo
Resident District Commissioner Charles Ichogor says despite previous
interventions including meetings and dialogues to implore the displaced persons
to leave the school, were unsuccessful.
Ichogor says
authorities opted to dialogue over the matter with the displaced persons since
their continued presence on the school premises affected learning.
//Cue in:
“as you are…
Cue out::
…..normal learning”//
The Lamwo
District Education Officer Barnabas Langoya says evacuating the school was long
overdue. According to Langoya, for the whole of the last term, learners were unable to
attend lessons due to the presence of the displaced persons.
Langoya says
the situation forced all parents to transfer most of their children to the
neighboring primary schools of Madi-Opei, Lawiye-Oduny, and Latolim in Madi Opei
Town Council, and Paloga P7 in Paloga Sub County.
//Cue in: Kwon
Cok Primary…
Cue out:
…..gu cak planning”//
The LCV Councilor
Madi Opei Sub County Charles Onek says the displaced persons were hindered from
returning back to their ancestral homes due to a lack of security to avert any
violence between the clans. Onek also attributed their failure to leave the
school to the lack of non-food relief items including tents, utensils, sanitary
materials, and beddings amidst others.
//Cue in:
“besides we have….
Cue out: …. learning Centre”//
The School’s
Deputy Headteacher Robert Kirunda Lutoo says that the relocation of the
victims will give the school adequate space as they prepare to receive students
next week.
//Cue in:
“wan mere nongo….
.
Cue out:
…..obed maleng”//
Lutoo however says they are challenged with vandalism
of school property and the appalling sanitation situation where all latrines
are filled up due to the presence of the displaced persons that need to be
rectified.
Dan Michael Komakech
Freelancer