Alur king offers 20 acres of land for settling tribal conflict victims

ZOMBO. Following the influx of people fleeing from the tribal conflict between Lendu and Alur in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), His Majesty Phillip Rauni Olarker III, the King of Alur has offered 20 acres of land for resettling the people currently at the border.

The conflict which started in April this year has forced over 10,000 Alur people in DRC to seek refuge in Uganda.

But due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they have remained at the border in Zombo district without any help.

It is on this basis that the king offered the 20-acre piece of land in Atyak sub-county, Zombo district for the victims to settle on.

Olarker also wrote to the minister of relief and disaster preparedness to support the victims of the tribal conflict.

In his letter, the king noted that very many of his subjects have fled their homes and are hiding along the border for safety.

He said notwithstanding the international boundary, all Alur subjects in the two countries pay allegiance to him thus making them one.

“Given the critical need for support, I have offered 20 acres of land and may add more if need be, from the kingdom land in Atyak to settle my people stranded at the border especially the vulnerable groups like women and children while fully observing the Presidential directives on Covid-19 on border movement restrictions,” the king’s letter read in part.

“The kingdom commits to collaborate with the ministry of health to sensitize the community on the standard operating procedures of Covid-19,” the king emphasized.

While visiting the land on Wednesday, Ms Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny, the state minister for northern Uganda said the land offered is in a good location and fertile.

She said a team that supports humanitarian activities will soon come and plan the land accordingly.

“Assessment will be done to establish the number of people and what is needed because the ministry of health will have to first come and test them for Covid-19,” Kwiyucwiny said.

Mr Vincent Ochaya Orach, the Alur kingdom Prime Minister stated that they will not only host Alur people from DRC but also the Lendu people affected by the conflict.

He urged the people of Zombo to cooperate and support the program which will also provide job opportunities and other developmental projects.