GANBUGL, KEROWAGI – After 48 years of bloodshed, the Silku and Gena tribes came together at Ganbugl village on April 23, 2026, to finally seal a conflict that has killed many people, destroyed homes and gardens, and robbed children of schooling. The man who brought them together was Kerowagi MP Francis Kikin Siune, a son of the Gena tribe. Unlike all previous peace attempts that relied on the temporary ritual of “brukim sugar” (breaking sugarcane), this ceremony introduced a stronger, permanent symbol: “planim sugar together” (planting sugarcane together). Breaking sugarcane ends a fight for a moment, but planting sugarcane grows something lasting.

Witnessed by nearly 1,000 spectators, MP Siune presented four sawmills worth K235,000 with two for each tribe, two chainsaws worth K10,000, and K150,000 cash given directly to the Silku tribe on behalf of the Gena tribe. “These sawmills and money are to help you rebuild your homes and generate money from timbers from your backyards,” Siune said. Police and Mobile Squad MS8 were present to enforce the peace.

The conflict began in 1970 when traditional colonial leaders gave land portions belonging to the Silku to the Gena tribe. The Silku believed their land was stolen, while the Gena believed the allocation was legal and fair for the development of Kerowagi District. What started with bows and arrows later escalated to high-powered guns, and for nearly five decades the two tribes lived as enemies. Many peace ceremonies came before, but none fully sealed the dispute. On Christmas Day 2024, the Nazarene Church led a major reconciliation after three months of mediation, with Rev. John Henry declaring the “blockage removed” and MP Bari Palma calling it a blessing, but that ceremony offered no economic tools to rebuild lives. In April 2025, four Gena clans ended 20 years of fighting over sorcery accusations by “planting the cross” in a ceremony led by Fr. Christopher Onguglo, which healed internal Gena wounds but did not resolve the main Silku-Gena land dispute. In February 2025, police commander Mazuc Rubiang camped for seven days in a combat zone to broker the Sambuga Wauga peace using the “brukim sugar” ritual, showing that police could mediate but again lacking long-term rebuilding tools.

The April 2026 Ganbugl ceremony is different from all of these for four reasons. First, the MP is from the Gena tribe, so the K150,000 cash represents the Gena people directly compensating the Silku. Second, the sawmills and chainsaws give both tribes the tools to build homes and earn money, making war less attractive. Third, police and Mobile Squad MS8 attended, meaning the state will enforce this peace. Fourth, “planim sugar together” is a permanent commitment, not a temporary truce. Challenges remain, as the original 1970 land division has not been reversed, though the compensation may ease that pain, and guns are still available in the highlands, but police presence signals state enforcement.

As community leader Kua Kawagle said after an earlier peace, “Peace is possible and reconciliation is the path forward.” With MP Francis Kikin Siune’s sealing ceremony at Ganbugl – combining compensation, economic tools, police enforcement, and the new “planim sugar” ritual – the 48-year dispute between the Silku and Gena tribes should now be considered finally closed.