BOLONG L.K JATTA, NEWLY APPOINTED ALKALO OF BUSUMBALA
By Buba Gagigo
The recent appointment of Bolong L.K. Jatta as the new Alkalo of Busumbala has ignited tension and protest among villagers, some of whom have raised serious concerns about the process and legitimacy of the selection.
Jatta’s appointment, confirmed in a letter from the Governor’s Office and acknowledged by Jatta himself in an interview with King FM on Tuesday, comes in the wake of the passing of the former Alkalo, Boto Kaddy Jatta. However, the announcement has been met with resistance from a significant portion of the community, who allege that the process bypassed established traditions and favored a candidate with a controversial record.
Residents opposing the appointment claim that Jatta has been implicated in multiple land fraud cases, is currently entangled in legal disputes, and has been widely accused of reselling plots and mismanaging communal lands.
Traditionally, the selection of an Alkalo in Busumbala follows a customary process known as the Bulunda, wherein elders from the village’s ten founding compounds convene to choose a successor based on lineage, integrity, and the collective will of the people. According to several villagers, that process was followed — and it yielded a different choice.
“This time, nine out of the ten compounds unanimously endorsed Fansu Jatta — a well-known, experienced, and long-serving community figure. Fansu has not only served as Deputy Alkalo, but also as the Chairman of the Village Development Committee, playing key roles in establishing the village’s first police station, and its markets, managing community funds, preserving lands, and championing youth development. However, the village was taken by surprise when Bolong Kaddy Jatta, a man with a controversial record including multiple land fraud allegations, ongoing legal disputes, and widely reported incidents involving the resale of plots and misuse of village lands, was instead announced as the Alkalo,” they explained.
The announcement of Bolong L.K. Jatta’s appointment, they say, came as a shock.
Some villagers suspect that political considerations may have played a role in the appointment, though these claims remain unsubstantiated. According to the group calling itself the Concerned People of Busumbala, one of the candidates is perceived to have ties to the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), while the other is believed to be affiliated with the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP).
“While there are allegations that this decision may have been influenced by political affiliations — with one candidate perceived as supporting the ruling party (NPP) and the other believed to be linked to the opposition (UDP) — these remain unconfirmed. However, if politics has played a role in undermining a deeply cultural and community-based decision, then this matter deserves urgent and independent investigation,” they said.
The group is calling for the following:
1. A review of the Alkalo appointment, with proper consultation of the elders and community.
2. Protection of the Bulunda tradition from external interference — political or otherwise.
3. Recognition of the people’s choice in the spirit of peace, unity, and progress.
They have also appealed directly to President Adama Barrow, the Governor, the regional Seyfo (chief), and relevant government officials to intervene and heed the voices of the community.
As the controversy unfolds, tensions in Busumbala remain high, underscoring the fragile balance between state authority and traditional governance in The Gambia.