SDG on peace: What has Uganda achieved?

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Uganda is indeed an island of peace in the Great Lakes region!

This is the reason there is an influx of refugees into Uganda, which is also referred to as the Pearl of Africa.

However, there is growing conflict over land, water, pasture, wetlands, and forests. Is this a threat to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace and sustainable development? What has Uganda achieved?

The sun-baked ground in north-eastern Uganda stares at Michael Olupot in Katakwi as he also stares back. He then looks at me with teary eyes as his sense of loss takes a toll on him.

He says cattle rustlers hit him hard and took all his cattle recently. So, he has to give up the comfort of his bed to watch over his new herd to keep the rustlers at bay.

“We have had bitter experiences with rustlers who loot and rape women and girls,” Olupot says, adding that stealing cattle has remained a thorn in the flesh.

Olupot’s experience is repeated many times in the districts sitting in north-eastern Uganda (Teso and Karamoja), which are part of the drought-prone cattle corridor. This runs from south-western Uganda, across central Uganda, to north-eastern Uganda.

In the central cattle corridor (Nakasongola, Mubende, Sembabule, and Masaka), there are frequent conflicts over water and land.

This is part of what experts on the environment, like Onesmus Mugyenyi, the deputy director of Advocates for Development and Environment (ACODE), describe as the emerging conflicts over natural resources. Mugyenyi says environmental resources (land, water, and pasture) are becoming scarce as the human population grows by leaps and bounds.

Onesmus Mugyenyi, the deputy director of Advocates for Development and Environment (ACODE). (File)

“We are experiencing conflict over natural resources,” Mugyenyi says, adding that what happens in the long dry spell period in the cattle corridor is a fight over scarce resources, including water and pasture: “The land is becoming smaller and smaller.”

As the human population grows, arable land is dwindling, according to Mugyenyi.

In addition, much of the land that was productive is becoming less productive with each passing year.

The cattle are sources of livelihood, and pastoralists will drive livestock where there is grass,” he says.

Cattle being loaded for transfer in Gulu District as they implement the eviction of non-compliant herdsmen named ‘Balaalos’ in northern Uganda. (Photo by David Magere)

Mugyenyi agrees with politicians who say that Uganda is one of the most peaceful countries in the African Great Lakes Region. But peace, according to Mugyenyi, does not mean the absence of war.

“Once you get the guns silent, there are underlying causes of insecurity or absence of peace that may be prevailing,” he says. “We need to focus on the issues that drive conflict.”

He adds: “We need transparency and accountability as well as equitable sharing of resources”.

Apart from cattle rustling, there are also conflicts between the Balaalo or pastoralists and communities in parts of Acholi in northern Uganda. There are also growing conflicts among communities over wetlands, forests, and fishing grounds on lakes such as Victoria, Albert, and Edward.

Asked whether Uganda is making progress on SDG 16 or peace or not, Mugyenyi says: “We are trying but not making good progress".

According to Mugyenyi, there is a need for universal access to justice and the establishment of accountable institutions: “We need to build effective and accountable institutions at all levels. I do not think we are making progress”.

Another evil to peace, according to Mugyenyi, is corruption: “When it comes to reducing bribery, I think we are not doing well. There is rampant loss of money through illicit financial flows”. he says. According to him, Uganda is on the verge of being blacklisted: “Corruption and bribery are holding us back.”

Ugandan land wars

As far back as 2009, New Vision, in a story titled “Land wars,” highlighted 30 districts where land conflicts were taking centre stage. In addition, there are disputes between communities in Uganda and neighbouring countries over land along the borders. 

A bulldozer tears down one of the structures constructed in Lubigi wetland at Bulenga along Mityan Road during an operation curried out by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) on Friday. Maj. Joshua Karamagi the commandant Environmental protection force under NEMA said, the action is a follow-up to the presidential directive to remove all wetland encroachers. Over 100 business were affected. (Photo by Ponsiano Nsimbi)

“Conflicts that are a consequence of colonial legacy are exacerbated in the majority of cases by competition over access, use and transfer of scarce land and natural resources, ever-increasing population densities, largely driven by the high population growth rate, unsustainable agricultural practices and policy and institutional weaknesses,” states ACODE’s report. 

“The possibility of increasing conflict is largely driven by competition for influence and power, which comes with demonstrated control over land matters such as ownership, allocation, and access,” it adds.

Uganda’s population is growing at a high rate of 3.2% due to its high fertility rate. This is being amplified by deficits in land governance, corruption, and ignorance of the law, according to ACODE.  

Climate change is fuelling conflicts

Climate variability and extremes have the potential to exacerbate existing tensions and vulnerabilities, including food insecurity, water scarcity, disputes over access and use of land, and socio-political inequalities. Some of these phenomena are projected to increase in number and intensity, according to a report titled, “How does climate exacerbate root causes of conflict in Uganda?”

The two brothers; Charles Mwesige and Steven Tusiime, preparing to water their cattle in Ntoroko district. They are forced to collect water underground due to water scarcity. (File)

The report predicts that the conflict between the Bakonzo farmers and the Basongora pastoralists is likely to increase due to projected increases in temperatures and flood events. This will impact the availability of natural resources and exacerbate existing socioeconomic and political vulnerabilities.

In north-eastern Uganda, climate change, along with other vulnerabilities and risks, is likely to contribute to worsening livelihoods, food insecurity, and emergent security risks, including thefts, according to the report.

Refugees and communities tussle

While refugees come to Uganda seeking a safe haven, they have been caught up in competition over natural resources, especially firewood for cooking and grass for thatching houses.

Uganda hosts about 1.5 million refugees, most of them from South Sudan, according to the Office of the Prime Minister. The land where refugees stay has been provided by the host communities, according to Relief Web. 

“There are, however, tensions between refugees and their hosts over natural resources, livelihoods, and land,” states Relief Web. “These tensions have sparked a few violent incidents, and if not properly addressed, they could escalate into a broader conflict.”

A demographic threat?

According to Dr John Sekamatte, Uganda is sitting on a time bomb; the young people are more than the older ones. This is because most of the population is below the age of 30.

“There is a need to invest in young people at an early age,” he says, adding that the investment includes health, education, and skilling before they reach a productive age.

He added: “What we know is that investing in young people means that babies have to be well fed through the formative years to ensure cognitive development so that they can perform well.”

Sekamatte says what Uganda needs is not a decline in population but a slowdown in the fertility rate. This, according to Sekamatte, means that the country will not have as many dependents as we have currently.

“We need to invest in the health of producing workers and consumers to enhance the economic growth of the country, which will contribute to sustainable development,” he says.

Speaking of peace, Sekamatte says that when skilled young people channel their energy into production, they contribute to a healthy and prosperous future.

He also points out that the country was on course in terms of investing in young people before the disruptive effects of COVID-19 hit the world, including Uganda.

SDGs on peace

SDGs are a globally accepted framework for tracking development progress consisting of 17 goals with 169 associated targets and 232 indicators.

The 17 goals cover all interrelated social, economic and environmental dimensions of development. SDG 16 aims to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels."

“The inclusion of SDG 16 in the SDG framework was a major achievement of the international community because it recognises the importance of peace, rule of law, and inclusion for sustainable development,” states the data gap analysis for SDG 16 in Uganda. “This goal addresses three interrelated topics, namely peace, inclusion and institutions, which are key enablers for the achievement of all other goals.”

SDG 16 assessment by UBOS’ report (Kampala People’s SDG Festival 2023)

• 61% of the population are satisfied with the way democracy works in the country.
• 84% of the population is in support of a democratic political system. 39% are in support of the army ruling the country, while 36% are in support of a powerful leader.
• 61% of the population feels safe walking alone around the areas they live in at night.
• 86% of the population were aware of their right to seek justice.
• 88% and 46% of the respondents had trust in the local council and police systems, respectively.
• 70% of the respondents were aware of their right to access electoral information.
• 80% of the respondents were aware of the existence of conflict resolution institutions.

SDG 16, or peace, or access to justice

According to the SDG Progress Report 2021, SDG 16 promotes peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. This highlights access to justice for all and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions.

The homicide rate of seven per cent for every 100,000 people stood at 11% in 2019, compared to the 10.54% NDP III target for 2020/21.

According to the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2020, a total of 4,460 cases of homicide were reported by the end of 2020 compared to 4,718 cases in 2019, a 5.4% decrease, according to the SDG progress report.

Despite the general decline, however, there was an increase in most categories of murder: shooting (37.5% increase), strangulation (2.8% increase), and aggravated domestic violence (16.1% increase). In 2016, about 25% of girls and 11% of boys aged 13–17 reported being subjected to sexual violence in the past year, primarily perpetrated by neighbours and strangers, according to the SDG Progress Report.

The frequency of sexual violence was highest on the roads, followed by home and school. The proportion of gender-based violence (GBV) cases (rape, defilement, and domestic violence) taken to court increased by 5.8%, from 7,376 in 2018 to 7,810 in 2019, according to the SDG progress report.

Expert opinion

According to Bashir Twesigye, an environment lawyer, Ugandans are dependent on natural resources, and our economy depends on natural resources. What we are seeing is competition over finite resources.

“We have not invested enough in sustainable peace. We are currently a peaceful country, but there are underlying concerns over natural resources,” says Twesigye.

This peace can result in conflict and violence. We need to invest in sustainable peace in relation to access to natural resources. We need clarity on access to natural resources. We need a legal regime.”

Is Uganda going to hit SDG 16 on peace? Twesigye says Uganda needs to invest more in the relevant laws and institutions to avert situations that may escalate into conflict. “As Uganda moves into mining, it needs a good legal regime on mining, forestry, fisheries, and land.”