Akalo residents threaten legal action over alleged 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, 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 title encompasses 12 cells in Kole District: Bar-Opok, Atilem, Ireda, Akuriluba, Bungabunga, Acanpii, Abediworo, Oweo, Witim, Opira and Bar-Ilwa.

They claimed that Uganda Civil Aviation Authority fraudulently obtained land title on 27th January 2025 on plot 24462, block 7 at Anai Wigweng, Opionyoro, Agali and Pida covering 520 hectares.

This encroached into Akalo town council covering about 353 hectares against Anai that is only 185 hectares.

According to Odur community recognized that a smaller fraction of Anai Airport Land is in Baropok cell, Akalo town council contrary to the report that could have been presented by some representatives of Anai Affected land owners in collaboration with a team from 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 ensure fraudulent land title cancelled as residents disassociates itself from the 68 group that went to court from Anai.

The residents further called for a fresh and transparent survey of land within 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, Members of Parliament representing Kole South, Kole North and Kole District Woman MP, the Auditor General and the Mayor of Akalo Town Council.