Story by Osuta Yusuf.
- A deadly land dispute in Yumbe District left landlord Luka Akile Fendru killed, his family displaced, and their property destroyed by attackers from the Langi Clan.
A tragic land dispute in Bolomoni Village, Otakua Parish, Odravu West Sub-county, Yumbe District, has resulted in the death of Mr. Luka Akile Fendru, a landlord who had voluntarily offered his land in 2016 to host refugees. The conflict, which erupted on August 19, 2024, has also led to the displacement of his family and the destruction of their property.
The incident occurred when over 60 attackers from the Langi Clan in Ariwa Sub-county and Kulikulinga Town Council descended on the family of Mr. Luka Akile Fendru, claiming ownership of the 600-acre land. This land had been peacefully occupied by Mr. Fendru’s forefathers for over 100 years until 2022, when Mr. Suleiman Karube Dudu, representing the Langi Clan, began to assert ownership over part of it.
On that fateful day, the attackers shot Mr. Luka Akile Fendru with an arrow, leading to his death. The violent encounter displaced 68 members of his extended family and resulted in the burning of 13 houses. The attackers also looted 120 goats, 84 sheep, 15 cattle, two motorcycles, smartphones, and 4 million Ugandan shillings in cash.
One of Mr. Fendru’s sons, Mr. Okulega Fendru Gasper, who was shot in the leg during the attack, recounted how the violence forced their entire extended family to flee, leaving children out of school and the family living in constant fear. He lamented the failure of the police to take action despite numerous reports of assault, crop destruction, and trespassing filed by the family.
Bolomoni Village LC1 Chairman, Mr. Romano Apeku, who also lost his home and livestock in the attack, had gone to report the ongoing land dispute to the police earlier that day. However, the attackers followed him to the police station and accused him of siding with Mr. Fendru in the land conflict.
Mr. Fendru A. Robert, another son of the murdered landlord and a health worker at Bolomoni Health Centre III, described the attack as “Hell on Earth,” while another victim, Toko Geoffrey, who fled to Terego District, emphasized the dire situation they now face—homeless and without any means of livelihood due to the loss of their homes and animals.
Documents obtained reveal that the family of Mr. Luka Akile Fendru had repeatedly reported instances of assault, destruction of crops, and trespassing by Mr. Suleiman Karube Dudu and his relatives. However, no investigations have led to arrests or prosecutions, leaving the family without justice and vulnerable to further attacks.