Drama ensued in Parliament on Wednesday, when Government together with legislators from both Amuru and Adjumani districts gave conflicting accounts of the Apaa land conflict.
Through the State Minister for Housing Chris Baryomunsi,Government gave a chronology of events also putting the number of people killed in the clashes at 8, while in a separate report by Kilak North MP Anthony Akol said the dead are 11.
However, the two reports tabled before parliament chaired by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga conflicted on victims so far admitted in hospital, with Minister Baryomunsi saying 23 had been hospitalized at St Mary's Hospital, Lacor, while MP Akol told parliament that the minister should put the facts right insisting that the victims at Lacor are 21, with seven others admitted at Pabbo and Adjumani Health centres.
State Minister for Primary Health Care, Joyce Moriku, gave yet another figure, putting the number of those admitted at Lacor at 17.
Besides the number of victims admitted being contested, there is still a debate on the number of displaced people. State Minister Baryomunsi told parliament that 4,658 have been displaced with the Acholi being 1,924 while the Madi are 2,734. But MP Akol put the number of the displaced people at 7,000.
With all these contradictions, Speaker Kadaga demanded immediate solutions from government to ensure calm among the Acholi and the Madi.
Internal Affairs Minister Jeje Odongo assured parliament that he was on top of the situation, saying that deployments have been made in the affected area and that a number of arrests were to be made.
He appealed to the local leaders and area legislators to advocate for peace and urge people to go back to their homes.
Mwesigwa Rukutana, the Deputy Attorney General cautioned that the conflict, if not contained, may escalate. Rukutana also urged leaders against using tribal sentiments while discussing the border conflict.
