NAPAK — The Commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, Brig. Gen. Michael Hyeroba Wakala, has warned communities in the Karamoja and Teso sub-regions against escalating communal land conflicts, saying the disputes 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 3rd 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 property of another under the guise of land ownership. We shall enforce peace and protect every Ugandan,” Brig. Gen. Hyeroba said.
He noted that disputes involving gazetted land, communal grazing corridors and inter-district boundaries had been exploited to fuel violence, and tasked the joint security committee with conducting a comprehensive verification of gazetted land ownership and submitting recommendations to 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 added.
The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Napak, Mr. Milton Odongo, called for closer cooperation between security agencies and local leaders, saying isolated interventions had failed to deliver 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 outgrown 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 added that 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, Mr. Gilbert Okwir, called for unity among communities and closer 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.
He commended the UPDF, Uganda Police Force and the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) for joint operations that have helped curb cattle raids, which had contributed to tensions over land.
The Deputy Commander of the 5th 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 RDCs from the affected districts.
Photo Credit: Bakashaba Godfrey
