By Mike Rwothomio

Authorities in Zombo District are investigating the brutal murder of 70-year-old Mandhawun Seletina, a peasant farmer and resident of Abeju Centre Village, Ogusi Parish, Atyak Sub-county.

The incident occurred on Monday afternoon and is believed to stem from a long-running land conflict.

According to preliminary investigations, the deceased had been embroiled in a land wrangle with her nephew, Opyem Willy, aged 48. When Opyem Willy fell ill for several weeks, family members suspected that Seletina was bewitching him and did not take him to hospital. He died on Monday. Immediately after his death, youths from the village mobilized, went to Seletina’s home, set her three grass-thatched houses alight, dragged her to the house where Opyem Willy’s body was lying, and hacked her to death.

The LC1 Chairman later informed the police by phone.

Mr. Festus Ayikobua, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Zombo, confirmed the incident, describing it as “unfortunate” and something that “should stop.” He noted that the matter was related to a land conflict within the same family.

“This man by the name of Wilfred, aged 48 years old, was having an issue of land with his aunt. Later the man fell sick for weeks and died today. Then some unknown members from Abeju Village, Ogusi Parish, Atyak Sub-county, went on to pick this old woman and killed her immediately, claiming she was the one who killed that man over the land. To make it worse, they are all from one family,” Ayikobua said.

The RDC strongly condemned the act and revealed that Atyak Sub-county has been identified as a hotspot for land wrangles, with security agencies closely monitoring the area.

The Monday incident has been registered under PDA CRB 139/2026 and is being investigated as murder and arson by mob.

A homicide team headed by the District Police Commander and District Criminal Investigations Officer of Zombo visited the scene, documented it, and recorded statements from relevant witnesses.

Both bodies were conveyed to Paidha Health Centre III mortuary for postmortem.

Authorities say inquiries are ongoing and updates will be provided.

Land conflicts remain rampant in Zombo District, particularly in sub-counties such as Nyapea, Jangokoro, Paidha, and Atyak.

These disputes often arise among clan members, family members, and relatives over ownership rights under the customary land tenure system.

According to the 2025 Uganda Police Annual Crime Report, released on March 30, 2026, land-related crimes, including conflicts and fraud, increased by 67% compared to 2024.

Northern Uganda accounted for 33% of the cases, while Central Uganda recorded 25%. The most prevalent issues were disputed land boundaries (46%), family land wrangles (30%), and land grabbing (22%).

In response to the rising cases, the Alur Kingdom recently issued a directive instructing its chiefs and clan elders to take a central role in mediating, reconciling, and resolving customary land conflicts among its subjects through constructive and transparent Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms.

The directive was conveyed by the Alur Kingdom Prime Minister (Jadipu), Prince Lawrence Opar Angala, on behalf of His Majesty the Alur King, Ubimu Philliph Rauni Ularker III.

Prince Opar assured that the Kingdom will soon engage legal practitioners approved by the Judiciary to train its personnel in the implementation, promotion, and support of the ADR mechanism.

“The Kingdom will soon engage legal practitioners approved by the judiciary to help in the implementation of ADR by training its personnel for promoting and supporting the practice of ADR mechanism,” Opar stated.

He added that “this is linked naturally to our traditional means of resolving disputes amongst the Alur people aligning with the laws of Uganda.”

He further urged the community to begin transferring all customary land conflicts to clan elders in the chiefdoms for mediation and reconciliation using the Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism, now recommended by the Judiciary in line with the Alur Traditional Justice System.

One of the three huts torched

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at zoomer Africa your number one grassroot information hub