Akalo residents threaten legal action over Anai airport land encroachment

18 August 2026, 8:09 pm

By Baker Okello

Residents from 12 cells in Akalo Town Council, Kole District, have threatened to pursue civil and criminal legal action against the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) and other parties over what they describe as the fraudulent acquisition and expansion of Anai Airport land into community-owned land.

In a letter dated August 9 and addressed to the Minister of State for Works and Transport, the residents formally petitioned the Government to intervene in the alleged irregular expansion of the airport land.

The letter was signed by Herbert Odur, the chairperson, and Denis Ogweng, the secretary.

Speaking to our reporter, Odur confirmed that the petition was submitted on behalf of more than 1,000 households in Akalo Town Council, which borders Lira City. He said the residents were seeking urgent Government intervention to protect their land rights.

According to the petitioners, the disputed land title encompasses 12 cells in Kole District, including Bar-Opok, Atilem, Ireda, Akuriluba, Bungabunga, Acanpii, Abediworo, Oweo, Witim, Opira and Bar-Ilwa.

They alleged that the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority fraudulently acquired a land title on 27 January 2025 for Plot 24462, Block 7, located in Anai Wigweng, Opionyoro, Agali and Pida, covering 520 hectares.

The petitioners claim that the acquisition encroached on about 353 hectares of land in Akalo Town Council, while the actual Anai Airport land covers only 185 hectares.

According to Odur, the community recognises that only a smaller portion of the Anai Airport land lies in Bar-Opok Cell, Akalo Town Council, contrary to a report allegedly presented by some representatives of affected Anai landowners in collaboration with a team from the Lango Cultural Foundation.

Denis Ogweng, the secretary, said a community meeting held on August 4, 2026, resolved that a formal petition should be submitted to the authorities and that the alleged fraudulent land title should be cancelled. He said residents had also dissociated themselves from the group of 68 people from Anai who went to court.

The residents further called for a fresh and transparent survey of the land in Akalo, involving the Area Land Committee, Akalo Town Council, Kole Local Government, the Kole District Land Board, qualified surveyors and local political leaders.

Meanwhile, Kole District LC5 Chairperson Moses Oteng acknowledged reports of alleged encroachment on the land but said his office had not yet received the petition.

The petition was copied to the Chairperson of Parliament’s Physical Infrastructure Committee, the Members of Parliament representing Kole South and Kole North, the Kole District Woman Member of Parliament, the Auditor General and the Mayor of Akalo Town Council.