Uganda: Land disputes threaten IDP resettlement in Acholi

By Gloria Laker Aciro

The following story was published in Ugandan newspaper The New Vision on June 15, 2008 and does not necessarily relfect the views of the BBC.

Gulu, Uganda, June 15, 2008 -- Fresh conflicts resulting from land disputes are threatening the return of the internally displaced persons (IDP) in the Acholi sub-region. Most IDP’s prefer to remain in camps rather than face beatings and eviction by violent clan and family members.

Gulu District Speaker Ojara Mapenduzi, says the conflicts arise from issues such as greed for money, poverty, and political interference by some leaders in the region, who have no heart for the poor.

IDP returnee family build a new home. Gulu District,
northern Uganda. June 2008. Photo © Paul Kavuma.

According to Mapenduzi, the army and religious leaders are also involved in the conflicts. He says “We have a number of land disputes in the rural areas and because of the conflicts, many people are coming back to the IDP camps or are hesitating to have the return exercise carried out,”

In the Amuru district, the majority of the cases are between clans, but in Gulu most cases are between family members, where widows and orphans are suffering when people with money grab land from them.

Local radio community news broadcasts in Gulu are also reflecting the issue of land disputes, with more coverage about land, than other such issue.

Victim speaks out
Beatrice Ajok, 28, is a victim of land conflict. When her father died she claims he left her the family land in Pece Pawell, Gulu Municipality.

However, in 2007, when peace returned in the region, she says her paternal uncle, destroyed their house, and forced her to move.

When her mother spoke about the event on local radio, she claims her Uncle tried to harm her. She says, “One day my uncle tried to cut me with a panga because of my mother’s story on radio. It was my brother who saved me.”

Hope
There is hope that the Land Amendment Bill 2007, will protect customary land owners so that  the district land boards will have no power to give away land.