UPDF OFFICERS BLAMED FOR AIDING APAA LAND CONFLICT

Madi leaders with security operatives during a meeting.

By Anzoo Evaline

Adjumani

Allegations have surfaced during the west Nile region stakeholders meeting over the ongoing killings, torture, displacement and land grabbing in East Madi Wildlife Reserve in Adjumani district that UPDF officers have greatly contributed in to the conflict.
 
This comes after community members whose relatives have been tortured and killed by the Acholi community from Amuru district explained how they have been attacked by the Acholi community who have always been escorted by the UPDF commander called Simon Opolot in charge of Ofo East Barracks.

Igama Richard a resident of Ofo east village said that their enemy is not the Acholi but the UPDF officers who always escort the Acholi to where the Madi communities have settled.
 
“My problem is with the UPDF specifically a commander called Simon Opolot whenever this solder comes, he’s always accompanied by more than thirty Acholi men trying to monitor where the Madi people are crossing Zoka river from and he is ever amidst them, these people are coming to attack why,” said Igama.
 
“Two, this commander also sometimes participate in burning people’s houses,  I was one of the victim whose house was burnt, that’s why we are saying our enemies are not Acholi but both the UPDF and police, we want to know, have they come to grab land or to protect people because how can officers be fully engaged in land grabbing and open large farm lands,” Igama stressed.
 
Hon.Sabuni John the secretary for health Adjumani district who represented the district chairman expressed his disappointment and frustration to the government of Uganda for failing to solve the fourteen year problem of Apaa land between the Madi and Acholi community.

“4th infantry division commander today you tell us each time the government is deploying officers in Zoka, the commanders are always doubting whether Apaa is in Adjumani district why?” asked Sabuni.
 
“If you follow these recent killing you find that our enemies have been escorted by the UPDF so I want to tell you that our enemies are not the Acholi but UPDF,” said Sabuni John.
 
Hon. Feta Geoffrey the chairman for west Nile parliamentary caucus urged the office of the 501 brigade commander and the 4th division commander to solve the issue of insecurity between the Madi and Acholi community as soon as possible.
 
“Our coming here is not for a joking matter so I want to urge you the 501 brigade commander and Maj Gen Felix the 4th infantry division commander you people should solve this issue immediately before it’s too late because right now other regions are discussing about money economy and for us  we are still talking about insecurity,” said Feta.
 
The 4th division commander Major General Felix Busizoori promised to arrest the officers involved in supporting criminals and pledged that with support from his Excellency the president of the republic of Uganda, the issue will be solved.
 
“First of all I want to apologise on behalf of my officers and I also want to promise to you that we are going to arrest those officers who have been supporting criminals because whenever I call commander Simon he always tells me there’s no fight, no killings imagine, so please lets continue to be peaceful people that we have always been.  my Madi people I also want to promise to you after here I am going to convey a meeting to discuss with my senior the president and I promise the issue will be solved immediately”, the 4th infantry division commander Said .     
 
Within the months of February and March 2025, over thirty two (32) Madi men have been killed from Adjumani district over the issue of Apaa Land Conflict including one UPDF solider who has been killed by the Acholi people with orders from his commander Simon Opolot.