Land deals must be transparent

In northern Uganda for instance, where a two-decade LRA war upset societal fabric and livelihood, actions, whether for the good of the community of not, is deemed to be met by suspicion.

Reports about land conflicts, some resulting in the destruction of property, injuries and even loss of lives, have continued to dominate the media.

The most recent one is about DP president Norbert Mao, who, together with two Italian investors, were held hostage for two hours, stripped of their property and money by residents of Gunya Village in Amuru District.

The residents accuse Mr Mao of trying to survey 7,800 hectares of land, without notifying or consulting the 300 households who occupy it.
In the same district, at least 60 women in April last year, undressed before officials of the Madhvani Group, a company seeking 40,000 hectares for sugarcane growing.

In both incidents, residents accuse the ‘investors’ of not consulting them, while the ‘investors’ accuse local leaders of inciting machete-wielding locals against them.

Land wrangles, have also been reported across the country, including, Kayunga District, oil-rich Bunyoro sub-region, Karamoja and the larger part of northern Uganda.

Whatever reasons may be advanced to justify the rising land-related conflicts, one deliberate action needs to be ensured – transparency.
In northern Uganda for instance, where a two-decade LRA war upset societal fabric and livelihood, actions, whether for the good of the community of not, is deemed to be met by suspicion.

This is because, a community, which was cooped in camps for the better part of two decades, is still figuring out how best to resettle in their original villages.

In other parts of the country, most communities have become more conscious and literate about the value of land, largely because of (foreign) investments, government development programmes (roads, hospitals, school constructions, etc.), and the general appetite for land acquisition.

Amidst all these developments, it is important that those seeking to acquire land make the process transparent, legal and participatory. In that way, genuine development programmes will not be frustrated and the fights, bloodshed, destruction being witnessed now, will be curbed.