By Joseph Logola
Ten people are nursing serious injuries at Kotido general Hospital and Panyangara HCIII following a fight between two rival clans over a murram pit in a disputed land.
The fight happened on Saturday after a group of youths from Ngikerio clan reportedly attacked members of Nawii ejok clan who were at the disputed land as a tractor excavated murram for the maintenance of Kotido-Moroto road.
The disputed land is located at Kapadakook trading center, South division in Kotido municipality.
Those who were injured were identified as Loiki Lopusimeri, Loiki Kotido, Lonyangateba Teko,Lorion Lowaka, Lokwii Lobokodiye and Menen Apaloryonga among others, all residents of Nakongumutu Central, Napumpum sub county and members of Nawii ejok clan.
Lotekei Rikot an elder from Nawii ejok clan who claims the disputed piece of land belonged to their grandparents says the attackers took them unawares.
He narrates that on Tuesday, they were informed that Matla a company doing maintenance road works along Kotido-Moroto road is set to start excavating murram at the disputed land but when they reached the area a fight ensued immediately.
Lokwii Lobokodiye another victim also receiving treatment at Kotido general hospital says some of them were beaten to pulp since the attackers came armed with sticks.
Lorion Lowaka who is also nursing injuries at the hospital claims the elders were in the process of showing them boundaries at the disputed land when they were attacked.
Our attempts to get comments from the accused were not fruitful but a member of Ngikerio clan who preferred anonymity said the matter is in court and they are still waiting for the court ruling on the said land.
We, were however, not able to independently very the claim by the time of filing this story.
Ibrahim Amin Lodiny the acting LCIII chairperson Napumpum sub county however, urged clans to seek peaceful means to land disputes further urging parents to desist from inciting youth into violence.
Cases of land disputes are currently on the rise in Kotido district.
