Tororo: Japadhola risk losing cultural site

DAVID OCHIENG

Tieng Adhola cultural institution risks losing Nyakiriga cultural site after the families that encroached on the land claimed its ownership.

The two families are battling for 22 acres where the institution conducts prayers in Paya Sub County in Tororo district.

Nyakiriga rock located in Nyakiriga Village, Tororo District, is spiritual site where the Japadhola traditionally come to appease their gods.

The same site hosts thousands of tourists each year.

We visited the site last Friday, and this being the official worship day, it attracts a multitude of Japadhola believers.

According to one of the palace keepers and believers the site is critical to the entire Japadhola community.

The site used to sit ob over 40 acres in the early 1950s, but it has now shrunk to only 22 acres following alleged encroachment by the two families.

Lawrence Msanga, minister of Culture TiengAdhola cultural institution said all their efforts for dialogue have been futile.

He said they will run to court as the last resort.

Information on ground however indicates the families too have served the institution with a notice to sue, claiming to have owned the land for 100 years now.