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.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Commander made the remarks during a joint regional security meeting held at the 403 Brigade Headquarters in Matany, Napak District, which brought together security leaders to review persistent land disputes in the region.
The meeting follows the continued escalation of land disputes in the districts of Abim, Napak, and Kapelebyong, which pose a significant threat to peace, security, and socio-economic development.
Brig Gen Michael Hyeroba emphasized that the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) will not tolerate violence, incitement, or illegal occupation arising from land disputes in the Karamoja and Teso sub-regions.
He directed commanders under his command to take firm action against anyone taking the law into their own hands, stressing that no community has the right to evict, attack, or destroy another’s property under the guise of land ownership.
The Commander further tasked the joint security committee with conducting a comprehensive verification of gazetted land ownership to address historical and administrative gaps, warning that without clarity, criminals would continue to hide behind land conflicts.
“The joint security 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,” Brig Gen Hyeroba noted.
The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Napak, Milton Odongo, stated that land conflicts now require a coordinated, multi-agency response, describing the matter as a security issue that must not reverse the peace achieved in Karamoja and Teso.
“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,” Odongo said.
The RDC revealed plans to 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, stressing that the people of Abim, Napak, and Kapelebyong are one and cannot afford to fight over boundaries.
He commended the UPDF, Uganda Police Force, and the Anti-Stock Theft Unit for joint operations that he said had 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 was attended by other dignitaries, including brigade commanders, ASTU commanders, District Internal Security Officers, intelligence officers, and Resident District Commissioners from the affected districts.
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