Acholi chiefs warned on land rows
May 11, 2009
Traditional chiefs and LC chairmen in Acholi have been warned against corruption while handling the land wrangles between the Lamogi and Amuru clans. “The wrangles over land between the clans are caused by some traditional chiefs (Rwot) and LCs who have
By Dennis Ojwee
Traditional chiefs and LC chairmen in Acholi have been warned against corruption while handling the land wrangles between the Lamogi and Amuru clans. “The wrangles over land between the clans are caused by some traditional chiefs (Rwot) and LCs who have personal interests,†Amuru district Police commander Justino Ovuru said.
He was addressing local leaders and stakeholders at a two-day training on land usage at the Riser Gardens on Thursday
“In some areas, the chiefs allocate land to themselves. Some LC chairmen donot handling the land courts properly because they belong to the wrangling clans,†Ovuru aded.
The resident district commissioner, Edwin Yakobo Komakech, said the land rows between the two clans had escalated and that some LC2 chairmen were unlawfully charging land court sh75,000 fees instead of the Government rate of sh4,000.
“land wrangles in Acholi only exist in Amuru and not in Gulu, Pader or Kitgum,†the RDC added. The district intelligence security officer, Albert Ogwal, said the Police should investigate allegations of the charges and arrest the LCs and chiefs who are involved.
“The law doesn’t allow any person or leader to over charge and collect un authorised money,†he said. The Rwot of Lamogi, Otinga Atuka and that of the Ariya clan, PiCoo Oywelo, who attended the training, denied the allegations that they were involved in collecting the alleged court fees from the LCs.
“Chiefs only attend courts on land when asked by the Chief Magistrate to give an input or intervene,†Atuka retorted. Only the Rwot of Lamogi, Ariya and Pagak clans attended.
The training was funded by the Northern Uganda Transition Initiative and Amuru District Reconciliation Peace Team.
Traditional chiefs and LC chairmen in Acholi have been warned against corruption while handling the land wrangles between the Lamogi and Amuru clans. “The wrangles over land between the clans are caused by some traditional chiefs (Rwot) and LCs who have personal interests,†Amuru district Police commander Justino Ovuru said.
He was addressing local leaders and stakeholders at a two-day training on land usage at the Riser Gardens on Thursday
“In some areas, the chiefs allocate land to themselves. Some LC chairmen donot handling the land courts properly because they belong to the wrangling clans,†Ovuru aded.
The resident district commissioner, Edwin Yakobo Komakech, said the land rows between the two clans had escalated and that some LC2 chairmen were unlawfully charging land court sh75,000 fees instead of the Government rate of sh4,000.
“land wrangles in Acholi only exist in Amuru and not in Gulu, Pader or Kitgum,†the RDC added. The district intelligence security officer, Albert Ogwal, said the Police should investigate allegations of the charges and arrest the LCs and chiefs who are involved.
“The law doesn’t allow any person or leader to over charge and collect un authorised money,†he said. The Rwot of Lamogi, Otinga Atuka and that of the Ariya clan, PiCoo Oywelo, who attended the training, denied the allegations that they were involved in collecting the alleged court fees from the LCs.
“Chiefs only attend courts on land when asked by the Chief Magistrate to give an input or intervene,†Atuka retorted. Only the Rwot of Lamogi, Ariya and Pagak clans attended.
The training was funded by the Northern Uganda Transition Initiative and Amuru District Reconciliation Peace Team.