Two Arrested in Apaa Township

Security personnel has arrested two more people in Apaa Township bordering Adjumani and Amuru districts.   

The two have been identified as Francis Kilara a teacher at Juka Primary School, and Drama Pa Ouma. They were arrested from their homes in Lulai sub-parish at around 2:00 am in the wee hours of Thursday morning. 

Their arrest comes barely one week after security personnel arrested two people whose identities have been concealed following the death of four people from Madi after violent clashes.   

Moarian Abola, the Local Chairperson for Apaa Township said on Thursday that the two are currently being detained at Juka Army barracks which is located in the contested area.

He says that the security personnel stormed their houses where they were sleeping separately and arrested them for unknown reasons.   

Abraham Opiro, a resident of Lulai Sub Parish says that the heavily armed soldiers had by Thursday maintained heavy deployment and patrol within the area and bigger part Apaa Township.  

//Cue in: ‘’gi mako gi…   

Cue out: …I Juka ni.’’//   

Francis Otim, another resident says that the arrest could be linked to last week`s clashes which happened in Mungula Parish in Itirikwa Sub County Adjumani district which left four Madi tribesmen dead.   

Sunday Obol, another resident said that the heavy deployment and regular patrol have prompted fear among the people prompting them to flee to the trading centre.   

When contacted, Captain Hassan Kato, the Fourth Division Army Infantry Spokesperson told URN that he was yet to get the report of the arrest.   

On Wednesday, Brigadier General Bonny Bamwisweki the UPDF Fourth Division Commander visited Apaa Township and called for calm among the residents. 

There is renewed violence in Apaa Township which is being fronted by the Acholi and Madi speaking groups of Amuru and Adjumani districts over ancestral ownership of the contested area.   

Last year, residents of Apaa Township asked the government to turn the area into an autonomous Sub County as it moves to solve the recurring tension over the ownership.