news 19 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
UPDF Calls on Acholi and Madi Communities to End Apaa Land Disputes Peacefully
The UPDF has urged the Acholi and Madi communities to resolve ongoing land clashes in Apaa through dialogue after a recent incident claimed four lives and injured others. Military and police leaders emphasized unity, condemned tribalism, and warned against incitement during a meeting in Adjumani District. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/updf-urges-acholi-madi-to-end-apaa-land-clashes-5428814
The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) is actively mediating between the Acholi and Madi communities to halt violent disputes over land in Apaa. A recent confrontation resulted in four fatalities and multiple injuries.
At the second dialogue session in Itirikua Sub-county, Adjumani District, Major General Felix Busizoori, commander of the UPDF 4th Infantry Division, urged both groups to settle differences peacefully. He highlighted how these conflicts have caused deaths, forced displacements, and property damage.
“Fight with the hoe in the garden, not with weapons,” Maj Gen Busizoori advised, promoting agriculture over violence. He denounced tribalism as a barrier to progress and called for focus on productive pursuits.
The general warned local leaders against stirring unrest or profiting from the disputes, promising strict measures against those fueling tensions. He advocated for unity, respect, and development projects like new schools, health centers, and better seeds for maize and cocoa.
Regional Police Commander SSP Joseph Mwesige echoed these sentiments, vowing enforcement against illegal land grabs, intimidation, and vandalism while backing peace efforts.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)