Arua Diocese, community land case mediation fails again
By Andrew Cohen Amvesi May 30, 2022
ARUA. The land case between Arua Catholic Diocese and the three clans of Andruvu, Komite and Oruvu (AKO) communities in Ayivu Division, Arua City has been returned to court after the two parties failed to agree as earlier directed by Arua High Court.
Rt.-Rev.-Sabino-Ocan-Odoki-the-Arua-Catholic-Diocese-Bishop
The over 400 Christians dragged the Church to Arua High Court in 2017 demanding for rent arrears for over 100 hectares of land on which Ediofe Cathedral, the headquarters of Arua Catholic Diocese is sitting.
In their suit, the Christians claimed that the land in question was leased to Catholic Italian Missionaries by their grandparents in 1920 for a period of 99 years which expired on January 31, 2019.
But after several years of hearing, the court decided to send the two parties for mediation. However, the community members alleged that the mediation failed after the Diocese failed to provide an audience to the AKO clan during the mediation process.
As a result, the court has issued a fresh hearing notice to the two parties and fixed June 1, 2022 as the date for hearing the matter arising from Arua civil suit number 0016 of 2017.
“Take notice that the hearing of this case has been fixed for the 01, day of June 2022 at 10:00 O’clock in the fore/afternoon or soon thereafter as the case may be heard in this court. If no appearance is made on your behalf by your pleader or by someone by the law authorized to act for you, the hearing of the case may be conducted in your absence. Given under my hand and seal of this Court this 16 day of May 2022. The Deputy Registrar Arua High court,” the court notice read in part.
The AKO community is represented by Sam Ondoma of Alaka & Co. Advocates while Arua Diocese is being represented by Jimmy Madira of Madira & Co. Advocates.
The plaintiffs Odama Luiji, Nyabua Zakaria, Wadri Fedension, Charles Odama, Aliga Ali and Arua Albino on behalf of the three communities of the AKO clan are expected to appear in court to face off with the registered trustees of Arua Diocese.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, Arua Albino, the chairperson of AKO clan said since then, no single coin has been paid to the clan of AKO out of the Ugx40 that was then agreed to be paid annually for 99 years.
According to Albino, when they tried to ask for their money for the rent of the land for 99 years, no Bishop who was in charge of the Dioceses cooperated and implemented the agreement.
He said the former Bishop, Late Frederick Drandua once said he would look into the matter after several attempts from the AKO clan members. Albino noted that they made 10 attempts to the current Bishop, Rt. Rev. Sabino Ocan Odoki but he has totally failed to give them an audience.
The community is also demanding that the Diocese vacate their land and pay all damages they have encountered over the matter.
But Jimmy Madira, the lawyer representing Arua Catholic Diocese instead blamed the community and their lawyer for failing the mediation process.
“We tried the option of mediation but it failed because the community and their lawyer failed the process. The community dragged the Diocese to court but the Diocese has always been open for dialogue which failed twice in a period of 60 days,” Madira said.
Madira said since the mediation option failed, the hearing will have to proceed and that his team is ready for it.
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