Delegates from the Ma’di and Acholi communities are hopeful to reach a common understanding at the end of the three-day peace conference amidst accusations, denials and counter accusation between representatives of the two communities.
Ma’di community leaders were first to present their position paper at the peace conference Wednesday and placed numerous accusations and demands.Acholi delegates denied the accusations calling them outrageous and baseless.
Augustine Ernest Aremo, a key Acholi representative, ruled out the constant mention of Ustaz Joseph Kebulu in every talk because the matter was amicably resolved long time ago.
He said the two communities should uphold their peaceful co-existence at Ayii, Amee, and Magwi areas.
Mr Ernest rejected the chaos and violence prevailing in Opari area.
He said Magwi County should remain the administrative centre for both communities while the Ma’di people has a right to demand for a separate County respecting the Local Government Act.
Other indicators of success include the call to survey the Amee Junction land for the benefit of both Acholi and Ma’di communities.
Marko Aloma Koka Lowu, one of the Ma’di delegates, in his presentation cited the comments by the Acholi delegates as signs for successful talks.
Mr Aloma said airing out all the grievances by the two communities leads to peaceful resolutions that might not come today but another time.
He added that he looked forward to peace to prevailing in Magwi County by all possible means.
John Pangech, from the Acholi community, shared similar expectations.
He said he hoped the two communities reached an agreement about land issues.
Mr Pangech recognized that the problems under discussion are big and the two communities may need another conference.
Accusations and counteraccusations by the two communities range from ethnic cleansing to land grabbing, arms smuggling and use of foreign mercenaries in the local conflicts.
Kit, sometimes referred to as Ayii, and Opari areas, the establishment of Iwire Payam and the removal of the former Magwi County Commissioner Ocilo Bongomin are still contentious issues that keep propping up from every speaker that takes to the podium.