The Commander of the 3 Infantry Division, Brig Gen Michael Hyeroba Wakala, has warned communities in the Karamoja and Teso sub-regions against escalating land disputes, saying the conflicts pose a threat to peace, security and socio-economic development.
Brig Gen Hyeroba made the remarks during a joint regional security meeting at the 403 Brigade Headquarters in Matany, Napak District, where security leaders reviewed persistent land disputes in Abim, Napak and Kapelebyong districts.
He said the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) would not tolerate violence, incitement or illegal occupation arising from land disputes.
“Land conflicts are now a major security threat. I direct all commanders under 3 Division to take firm action against anyone who takes the law into their own hands. No community has the right to evict, attack or destroy the property of another under the guise of land ownership. We shall enforce peace and protect every Ugandan,” Brig Gen Hyeroba said.
He said disputes involving gazetted land, communal grazing corridors and inter-district boundaries had been exploited to fuel violence.
Brig Gen Hyeroba tasked the joint security committee with verifying the status and ownership of gazetted land and submitting recommendations to the Government.
“This committee must address the historical and administrative gaps. We need to know what is gazetted, what is communal and what belongs to the local government. Without clarity, criminals will continue to hide behind land conflicts,” he said.
Napak Resident District Commissioner Milton Odongo called for closer cooperation between security agencies and local leaders, saying isolated interventions had failed to provide lasting solutions.
“We are moving from talking to action. We have resolved to deploy joint security teams in all hotspots across the three districts to stop violence, prevent illegal demarcations and protect lives and property. Any local leader who incites communities over land will be held personally accountable,” Odongo said.
He said the conflicts had gone beyond the capacity of local council mechanisms and now required a coordinated, multi-agency response.
“Land conflict is no longer a mere community disagreement; it is a security matter. We shall not allow it to reverse the peace we have achieved in Karamoja and Teso,” he said.
Odongo said he would engage the Minister of Karamoja Affairs to facilitate the involvement of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and the Ministry of Local Government in developing a lasting policy solution.
The Deputy RDC of Abim District, Gilbert Okwir, called for unity among communities and stronger coordination among security agencies.
“The people of Abim, Napak and Kapelebyong are one. We cannot afford to fight over boundaries. I appeal to all security agencies to speak with one voice and find a lasting solution,” Okwir said.
Okwir commended the UPDF, Uganda Police Force and Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) for joint operations that he said had helped curb cattle raids, which have contributed to tensions over land.
The Deputy Commander of the 5 Infantry Division, Col Gai Fraser Mpadwa, urged field commanders to strengthen intelligence sharing and community engagement to prevent land disputes from escalating into violence.
The meeting brought together brigade commanders, ASTU commanders, District Internal Security Officers, intelligence officers and Resident District Commissioners from the affected districts.
The security leaders resolved to strengthen joint operations in affected areas while pursuing clarification of land ownership, boundaries and the status of gazetted and communal land.
