UGANDA, Butaleja | Real Muloodi News | In Butaleja District, situated in the heart of Bukedi Sub-region, escalating land conflicts have been attributed to the area’s significant population growth.
Local leaders point to the fact that, despite the population surge from 260,000 in 2014 to the current 350,000, the available land for settlement and farming has remained constant.
With a total land area of 644 square kilometres, roughly 40 per cent of the district is covered by wetlands.
Mr. Hebert Hamigo, the deputy Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Butaleja, emphasised the critical role population growth has played in increasing land conflicts and the fragmentation of available land.
He noted that 80 per cent of the district’s land falls under customary ownership, yet many of the landholders lack proper documentation.
Mr. Hamigo called upon the Ministry of Lands to issue land ownership certificates to residents as part of customary land registration efforts, particularly given that a significant portion of the district’s population comprises landless youth.
Land disputes have become a common occurrence in all three sub-counties of Butaleja: Kachonga, Mazimasa, and Naweyo.
Mr Hudson Birema, the Butaleja District Police Commander, shed light on the troubling reality that some youth in the district harbour hostile intentions toward their parents, even going as far as wishing for their parents’ demise to gain control of their land.
In some extreme cases, conflicts over land have resulted in the tragic killing of parents, particularly within polygamous families. This dire situation also disproportionately affects girls and women who are often denied inheritance rights.
Addressing these challenges, Ms Sarah Namusabi, the female youth counsellor for Mazimasa Sub-county, highlighted the perilous lengths to which some individuals are willing to go for personal gain, including the sale of land to purchase motorcycles.
Amid this turmoil, it is clear that a concerted effort is needed to educate local leaders and communities about land rights and responsible land governance.
Mr. Samuel Weere Binga, the chairperson of the district land board, urged local leaders to embark on a sensitization campaign focusing on land rights and the prevention of conflicts fueled by political motivations.
Mr. Twaha Kirya, the district lands officer, called upon the youth to take advantage of existing legal frameworks and opportunities to participate in land decision-making processes.
Under the theme “Enhancing youth participation in Land governance for sustainable development,” an engagement organized by the Uganda Community-based Association for Women and Children Welfare (UCOBAC) and other development partners sought to empower the youth in Butaleja District by enhancing their understanding of land rights.
Ms. Jodana Wamboga, the UCOBAC programs officer, emphasised the importance of raising awareness about land governance.
She highlighted the need to expand community-based land registration and land use planning based on customary ownership, recognising land as a pivotal productive asset that contributes significantly to the nation’s economy and social fabric.
Mr Mark Katusiime, the project officer for the Uganda Community-Based Association for Women and Children’s Rights, acknowledged that while youth are recognised as a key population category with special needs, caution should be exercised when entrusting them with land ownership due to potential challenges in land management.
To mitigate land disputes, Minister Judith Nabakooba distributed customary certificates, further underscoring the importance of promoting responsible land governance and resolving conflicts to ensure sustainable development in Butaleja.
The engagement received support from various development partners, including UN-HABITAT, the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with funding from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
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