By KT Reporter
Residents of Atuma Village in Acaba Parish, Nambieso Sub-county, Kwania District are demanding a fresh reopening of the boundaries of a 352-acre contested piece of land to resolve a long-standing wrangle with Christopher Abai, son of the late Raymond Ogwang.
On April 9, 2025, more than 60 angry residents stormed the office of the Kwania District Chairman, accusing Abai of illegally selling community land to Geoffrey Etwop, a Lira City-based tycoon, and his son, Francis Akwanga Etwop.
Patrick Ojok, who led the delegation, claimed that Abai, who rightfully owned only 140 acres, sold all 352 acres of the land to Etwop, the proprietor of Rhino Oil Company. He further alleged that Abai forcefully grabbed an additional 57.5 acres belonging to the community and 125.12 acres submerged by floods, all of which were then sold to the businessman.
During a meeting held in the district boardroom on Monday between district officials and the disputing parties, Ojok called on leaders to conduct a boundary reopening exercise on the ground to establish the truth.
Translation: “Mr. Abai, I stood with you when they wanted to grab your land. What I am seeing is that you now want to connive with others to take community land. I know your land boundaries—where your father leased. I’m requesting the district leaders to go to the scene, and they will know the truth.”
In response, Christopher Abai maintained that the 352 acres in question are located in Atuma Village, adjacent to the shores of Lake Kwania. He explained that the land was leased to his late father, Raymond Ogwang, by the government in 1994 for 50 years under the Land Reform Decree, which classified all land as government-owned before the enactment of the 1995 Land Act. Abai stated that he now holds legal rights over the land as the family’s administrator
Geoffrey Etwop, the alleged buyer, denied accusations of land encroachment, asserting that he lawfully purchased the land after verifying the land title and has since compensated 30 squatters residing there.
Meanwhile, Mzee Peter Ecun Oyee, father of former Apac District Speaker Jimmy Emmanuel Okello Ecun, stated that he had donated the land to his late brother, Ogwang Raymond, who later secured the land title. Ecun said he now recognizes Abai as the rightful owner and no longer has any claim to the land, especially after a failed legal attempt to reclaim it.
The meeting, chaired by Kwania District LCV Chairman Geoffrey Alex Ogwal Adyebo, alongside Assistant RDC Obada Ceasar and DISO Denis Elyebu, resolved that a boundary reopening exercise will be conducted on Thursday this week to settle the matter definitively-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
