Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has agreed to visit Pakwach district for a fact-finding mission to resolve a longstanding land wrangle.
This followed a reminder from Marshall Alenyo, the Jonam county MP, during the prime minister’s question time in parliament on August 27. It was the third time Alenyo was raising the issue and this time Nabbanja relented.
“I have known that issue for some time and His Excellency has also briefed me before. I am going to make it a top priority in the coming days,” she answered.
Background
In 2025, when President Museveni visited the district during the presidential campaigns, the people of Jonam county pleaded with him for help to reclaim their lost customary lands in Gotafoyo parish, which is now in Nwoya district.
The contestation is also known as the Palango land question. The Jonam say that land was grabbed from them. The president promised that he would institute a three-man legal commission of inquiry to listen to the complaints but for a start, he directed Nabbanja to visit the contested area.
Back in 1999 when then prime minister Apolo Nsibambi mediated the issue, he advised the president to authorise the Jonam to go back to their land, which they call Lokapalango land.
However, the president never acted until recently when he directed Nabbanja to intervene.
“I’m happy that she has followed the president’s directive and promised that she is urgently coming to Jonam,” said Alenyo.
“So, I ask all the people of Pakwach to be ready and to wait for the prime minister’s arrival. We are prepared to show her our marks and the judgments we have and also for her to interact with our people.”