A contentious land dispute between the Imoratok clan in Teso sub-region and the Soroti Catholic diocese has escalated, with the case now before the Court of Appeal. The disputed land, spanning 50 acres, is situated in Morungatuny within Ocacia parish, Morungatuny sub-county, Amuria district.
In a notice of appeal filed in Kampala on Friday, five members of the Imoratok clan, led by Mark Aleu, expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling delivered by Justice Henry Peter Adonyo on October 14, 2022, regarding the disputed land.
Represented by their legal team from Omongole and Company Advocates, the clan leaders criticized Justice Adonyo for not conducting a site visit to ascertain the boundaries of the original land donated to the church by their forefathers. They argue that such a visit would have revealed additional land annexed by St. Peter’s Canisius-Orungo, a claim not recognized by the original donation.
In contemporary land practice, courts often visit the disputed site to verify evidence presented during trials, a practice not followed in this instance.
Justice Adonyo’s ruling dismissed the clan’s claim, stating that their assertion of customary ownership was unfounded and motivated by greed. He emphasized that the court cannot entertain baseless claims of customary ownership.
The origins of the dispute trace back to 1944 when the late Etengu granted permission to the Catholic Church to establish religious, educational, and health facilities on the 50-acre customary land. However, tensions arose when the Soroti Catholic Church allegedly surveyed an additional 87 acres for the benefit of St. Peter’s Canisius-Orungo without the clan’s consent, leading to legal action against the church, the Amuria District Land Board, and Fr. Joseph Ipurale Ocom, then parish priest of St. Peter’s Canisius-Orungo.
The Imoratok clan contends that the land was meant for religious, educational, and health purposes and was never intended for conversion into freehold ownership. They argue that the church had no authority to alienate the land without their consent.
Fr. Joseph Ipurale Ocom, the former parish priest, refuted the allegations of land encroachment, accusing the clan of attempting to seize church property. He maintained that the church adhered to legal rulings and questioned the origin of the additional 100 acres claimed by the clan.
The Court of Appeal is yet to schedule hearings for the appeal filed by the Imoratok clan, further prolonging the resolution of this protracted land dispute.
