Clan leaders blamed for continued customary land disputes in Maruzi North

Local authorities, among them clan leaders, gathered at Itao Acil Ayesu Catholic Church in Chegere sub-county on Saturday to participate in a Public Legal Clinic on customary land management.

The Clinic, facilitated by the Land and Equity Movement in Uganda (LEMU) team, brought together participants from Chegere, Teboke and Apac sub-counties.

Responding to what key issues are increasing customary land conflicts in their areas, participants gave different opinions.

Giving birth to too many children and having nephews who grew up with their grandparents and decided to settle on their land, and men who remarry widows, participants say are some of the major causes of customary land wrangles in Maruzi North.

Okello Tom, a resident of Atigolwok parish, Chegere sub-county, blames some nephews for customary land wrangles.

In an interview with tndNews, Odoc James, an LC2 chairman of Iler parish, Adok in Teboke sub-county, Apac district, attributes land conflict to climate change.

He observes that lately most lands have been taken up by floods. The floods, he says, have contributed to land conflicts especially where houses should be built for settlement.

“Floods are squeezing the land, and the land has become small,” Odoc says, stating that in the past, swamps were few and wouldn’t submerge homes as it’s today.

Odoc, who doubles as a clan leader (rwot) of the Adok Oyengowoo clan in charge of Maruzi North, has also blamed clan leaders for the continued land conflicts.

“First of all, we (clan leaders) have to look at the first 10 commandments during the time of Moses, where Jesus Christ later came and reduced it to two commandments only, which says: ‘Love one another as you love yourself.”

“As cultural leaders, some of us look at money only and there are those who think about the welfare of the people. As an LC2 chairman, I settle(d) land disputes.”

Between 2013/14, he says a person in charge of the local court in Chegere used to borrow his land record book to benchmark on how he settled land disputes. “I don’t look at money. I invite the two families with land disputes, and sit them down. If I fail, I invite my executive members to help me settle a particular dispute.”

Unfortunately, today, Odoc says cultural leaders have lost track and are only money-motivated before settling any dispute – be it land or otherwise.

“I want to advise our cultural leaders: If we want to ensure our Lango land is safe, let’s not mind so much about money, let’s not think too much about transport facilitation to settle a land dispute because all warring sides are our relatives.”

Odoc appeals to the government to rethink its wetland policy, stating that people are now being squeezed by the effects of climate change.

Jennifer Otim of Iler parish, Teboke sub-county, also blames clan leaders for “sleeping on the case.” “Once bought off by a well-off family, they take sides,” she says.

She adds that women are being undermined when it comes to settling land matters. “Women also know matters of land because as they till land with their husbands, they are shown land boundaries.”

During land mediations, Otim says women are blocked out, abused and face stigma. “In such instances, she will go back home and keep silent because she is demotivated.”

To ensure customary land conflicts are mitigated, Jennifer urges clan leaders to rise up on their feet because they are well conversant with land issues.

She advises clan leaders to listen to LEMU’s teaching and intervention which she states has been massive. “If they go back and refuse to accept bribes, land conflicts and family division will reduce and land issues will be settled.”

The Executive Director of LEMU, Dr Theresa Auma, says the training was intended to enhance the knowledge and capacities of leaders in resolving customary land disputes in communities.

The training was held under the flagship campaign “Keep Your Land Keep Your Seed.”