Napak Area Land Committee Chair Resigns After Bamugemereire Probe

Patrick Apuun Longole, the Ngoleriet Sub County Area Land Committee Chairperson has stepped following a barrel of questions by the Justice Catherine Bamugemereire Land Commission.

  Apuun, who once represented Bokora County in parliament, announced his resignation before the Commission when he failed to respond various questions over the land issues raised by a 74-year-old Aroni Maria Apateleo, resident of Moruakwangan village in Lotome Sub County.

The widow needed answers over her 300-acre piece of land that she claimed was grabbed by a businessman, Israel Lokong, the owner of Shalosha Hotel in Moroto town. Apateleo accused Apuun of siding with Lokong to grab her land in Morupwangani, Lotome sub county Napak district. 

She said in 2015, Apuun used his powers as the Area Land Committee chairperson to force her to share the land with Lokong, whom she called an international thief. The old woman also claimed that Apuun’s decision to divide her land was personal and biased since Lokongo was his son in-law. 

Apuun attempted to deny the accusations prompting the Commissioners to ask him several questions forcing him to lose his cool. He then declared his resignation from the District Land Board, which he has served since 2015.

“I would rather do away with the district land board services than turning to be a laughing object before the members. From today, I don’t want any letters or calls from the Chief Administrative Officer of Napak district on land matters”, the angry Apuun said. 

Apuun served in the 7th Parliament before he was replaced by the incumbent MP, Terrence Achia Sodium.