A group of elders in Ayivu County in Arua are unhappy that their district administrators have sold a prime plot of cultural land to the Presidential Advisory on Religious Affairs, Anuna Omar.
The 1.5 acres of land is located between Arua Central Police Station and the main district administration headquarters in Arua town. It is belongs to the Ayivu clan and has been used a public ground for national celebrations, football matches and general traditional rituals.
John Godo, the chairperson of the Ayivu Elders Association, says the Arua municipal authorities were aware that the property is cultural land and not for sale. He says the Ayivu were not consulted on plans to sell the land and they will go to court to defend their right to their cultural heritage.
//Cue in: iSince 1995 #i
Cue out: i# urban development program.i//
Anuna Omar admits that she purchased the Ayivu land in Arua towns. She however argues that cultural land is not the preserve of any cultural institution and the district land board and municipality have the mandate to sell land to developers.
Omar says she has evidence to prove that her purchase of the land was legal. She says she plans to build a hotel on the property.
However Francis Barabanawe, the Town Clerk of Arua, denies the report of the sale of the land. He says he has no idea how the presidential advisor acquired the land.
