Army decries Kasese land wrangles

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has decried the persistent land wrangles in Kasese district.

The army says the wrangles have seen several residents, especially cultivators and pastoralists clash to the level of killing each other and injuring scores.

222 Mountain Brigade Commander Col. Saulo Nabimanya has, therefore, called on the Government to expedite the process of resolving land wrangles. He made the call on February 15, 2025, during Kasese district's Tarehe Sita celebrations at Mpondwe Muslim Primary School, Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Town Council. The event's chief guest was information state minister Godfrey Kabbyanga.

"Unresolved land wrangles have remained potential causes of insecurity in the district," Nabimanya said.

He further guided that matters of land conflicts need to be solved politically and appealed to the district LC5 chairperson and other authorities to draft solutions to the matter so that the people can live in harmony and concentrate on development.

The army's concerns follow last week's arrest of about 22 people who attempted to cause a deadly dispute between crop farmers and pastoralists in Kabukero village. 

Nabimanya appealed to the residents to embrace a peaceful co-existence so that they foster peace and security being paramount development aspects.

Charged with inciting violence

According to Rwenzori east region Police spokesperson Nelson Tumushime, 20 individuals detained at Hima Divisional Police were charged with inciting violence.

Godfrey Kabbyanga, the ICT and national guidance state minister warning the locals against thinking of obtaining land with violent actions.

According to Tumushime, the suspects were found in possession of pangas, hoes and sticks after they attempted to reclaim sections of the land which is under contention between the cattle keepers and the cultivators.

He said Hima Divisional Police commander Suzan Nerima Bwire swung into action to contain the situation that could have otherwise exploded into a full-scale conflict between the cattle keepers and the cultivators.

Residents speak out

Busongora North constituency resident Jonen Bamwenda Bwambale attributed the prolonged land disputes to the district leaders for politicising the matter and not providing immediate solutions to end the ever-growing and wild land tensions.

Heziron Muthende, a resident in Kabukero village, said these are 17 years when cultivators and pastoralists have been fighting over land adding that even when authorities including the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), land committee led by minister Mayanja have come on the ground, nothing much has solved the problem.

Ministerial committee

Kasese Resident District Commissioner Joe Walusimbi said the President appointed a ministerial committee to come on the ground and solve the problems but they have failed.

"Every day, people come to my office over issues of land," Walusimbi said.

Cabinet involvement

Kabbyanga warned the residents, especially those indulging in land wrangles to forego the mentality of thinking that they can obtain land out of violent actions.

He revealed that they were handling the matter at Cabinet level.