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 conflicts, saying the disputes threaten peace, security and socio-economic development.
Brig Gen Hyeroba made the remarks on Wednesday 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 People’s 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 property belonging to another under the guise of land ownership. We shall enforce peace and protect every Ugandan,” Brig Gen Hyeroba said.
Brig Gen Hyeroba 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 conducting a comprehensive verification 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.
The 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 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 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 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 Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) for joint operations that he said had helped curb cattle raids, which had 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.
