Nyabongo/Labongo’s Ancestral Burial Place
Since his sons had left him at Got Kilak to form their own chiefdoms, Nyabongo/Labongo also decided to leave Got Kilak where he felt lonely. He moved eastwards along the banks of river Zoka as it is called by the Madi community or river Juka by the Acholi community until he reached a place called Oywello-apaa in Lapala parish in present-day Amuru district. River Zoka/Juka acts as a boundary that separates the Madi and Acholi people.
Oyweelo-apaa refers to ten black plum trees (with “oyweelo” meaning black plum tree and “apaa”, ten).
It is believed that Nyabongo/Labongo lived here for the rest of his life until he met his death and was buried here as well.
Fr. Crazzolara in his book, “The Lwoo Part II Lwoo Traditions, 1951” (page 225) heard that Nyabongo/Labongo lived, died and was buried at Oyweelo-apaa: “After the separation at Pubungu, Nyabongo/ Labongo moved with his group to Got Ladwong, not far from the Nile in the region of the present-day Wadelai (Wat-lei) where they stopped for their first settlement. Here Oluum died and was buried. Nyabongo/Labongo succeeded his father, Oluum. He left Got Ladwong and went to a place called Oyweelo- apaa, where there stood ten Oyweelo trees (black plum trees) and where he settled. Nyabongo/Labongo died and was buried there”.
While there, Nyabongo/Labongo built a shrine, from which he used to offer harvest sacrifice, blessed his people, and healed the sick. His people always provided the ritual items.
To date, the Acholi perform annual rituals at Oyweelo-apaa to mitigate calamities such as epidemics, drought, mosquito infestation, childlessness, and other sexual reproductive health problems.
Although the black plum trees (oyweelo) are no longer there, there is a river next to Nyabongo/ Labongo’s burial ground also called Apaa, which flows to River Omer that later pours into the River Nile. Besides that, there are also kidi dero (stones for holding the granary) that were once used by Nyabongo/Labongo to store his food. At the moment the heritage site is monitored by the community who are guided by the cultural elders.
Apaa is mostly inhabited by Acholi people, with some Madi too. In recent times, there have been land wrangles between these two ethnic groups.