Emma Decox Nyalo
A forum of cultural leaders from Lango and Kumam, led by John Bosco Ekalu Ekwasu, the head of Kumam in Amolatar District, and Sarafin Awany, chairperson of the Lango Clan Chiefs Association in the district, on Wednesday delivered a comprehensive ruling on a disputed wetland, six weeks after conducting a locus visit.
The decision was announced during a meeting held at Alwala in Acii Sub-county, attended by the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Community Liaison Officer (CLO), representatives from the District Police Commander’s office, officials from Acii and Namsale sub-counties, the District Forestry Officer for Environment, complainants, defendants, community members and the media.
It follows that, a group of six people including Aloka Bonny, Olwa Alfred, Olwa Seberino and Ocen George Obia complained against the family of Elalu Deons and his sons for encroaching and selling the wetland, denying communal usage rights by many others.
CLAN LEADERS FINDINGS
In a written findings and resolution dated 18th June 2026, and delivered on 15th July 2026, co-signed by Ekalu Ekwasu J.B who doubles as the speaker Kumam cultural heritage and Awany Sarafin, the clan chiefs head in the district, after gathering community and local leaders information, field visit, viewing and verification from stakeholders on the said land.
They found that the said land running from Olyaka in Namasale sub county, through Alaku in Acii, Aguludia in Namasale and to Anoga then pours into Lake Kyoga at Namasale, is a water run way which has existed for decades during rainy seasons.
Both parties stated that the said land has been secured by their grandparents for grazing only, not cultivation.
The clan leaders also found that other parties have encroached, started selling, hiring to other people and clearing bush from the said wetland.
Furthermore, the clan leaders found out that in process the encroachers ended up fighting as some have interest in owning and selling some parts of the said land, which is a water run way, cattle path and swampy area.
STAKEHOLDERS REACTIONS
Peter Okori, the sub county chairperson of Acii, stated that only law can solve the over 600 acres wetland wrangles, adding that the matter is now seven years before court.
Okori revealed that during RDC Lilian Eyal tenure, the land was demarcated but what lacked was enforcement.
Inspector of Police George Alado, the CLO Amolatar CPS admitted that there was enforcement laxity, blaming it on the environment office of the district.
Inspector Alado, cautioned against encroachment and fighting over the disputed wetland and vowed to arrest and prosecute whoever shall risk doing so.
Erick Ocen, the district forestry officer who stood in for the environment department at the dissemination meeting, promised to embark on demarcation soon, as guided by laws of Uganda.
He warned encroachers that they risk prosecution and advised all to desist from all activities of cultivation that were ongoing in the wetland.
RESOLUTION AND RECOMMENDATION
The clan leaders resolved that encroachers should return/ fall back to their original boundaries leaving the communal wetland and stop blocking water run ways, cultivation, blocking cattle path and erecting cattle corral therein.
Immediate demarcation of swampy areas to restore water runways by Amolatar district local government authorities.
They also recommended that demarcation should start from Olyaka in Namasale, down to Anoga in Acii Sub County to avoid future encroachment.
Finally, they handed over the monitoring of human activities, any sign of violence and protection of the said wetland to the office in the district.
Mr. Obonyo Magwar, the deputy RDC Amolatar, lauded the cultural leaders for their comprehensive handling and resolve of the land matter and confirmed with both parties present that the land is actually communal.
Obonyo asked all parties to put on halt all the economic activities that they have ben conducting in the wetland, except grazing cattle, not until the demarcation is done.
He advised the community to consider implementing a high diary cattle project in the contested land for cattle can fetch better monies than maize and rice that often fail due to drought.
Many stakeholders believe the effort by joint cultural leaders will bring relief in the area that had for long registered violence and criminality, giving local leaders sleepless nights.
