UGANDA

THEMATIC ISSUES
between Adjumani and Amuru, and between Maracha and Terego districts. In Lira,
participants commented on an aggressive conflict by four districts over the collection of
dues in a market located at the border with Lira and three other districts.
Conflict over land between ethnic groups
The majority of widespread land conflicts appear to be between ethnic groups. One of
the longest-running conflicts (which participants across the country highlighted as the
historically most significant)
was that over the “Lost
Counties” (the territory
taken over by Buganda from
Bunyoro during the colonial
time). 42 Another longrunning
conflict over land
exists between the Sabiny
and Bagisu, and has been
ongoing since the 1950s.
This conflict escalated
in 1961 when political
leaders gave Kapchorwa
District to the Sabiny as a
reward for voting for the
Democratic Party in the pre-
Independence elections.
The Sabiny subsequently
claimed an area of land
covering the whole of
Bulambuli district. This
conflict escalated in 1979
and left hundreds of Bagisu
dead. Since then, mutual
revenge killings have
taken place and insecurity
continues to date. 43
In Tororo, participants
indicated the existence of conflicts between the Jophadola and the Banyole as well
as the Jophadhola and the Iteso. In Adjumani, conflicts between the Acholi and Madi
over land were were said to have led to clashes with bows, arrow, knives and guns in
September 2009. 44
The element of ‘nativism’ surfaced in many discussions about land conflict. Some
participants felt that based on their ethnic identity they had a superior right to land than
individuals of ethnic groups that had arrived later in a particular area. They considered
42 For more information, see conflict number 8 in this Compendium
43 For more information, see conflict number 77 in this Compendium
44 For more information, see conflict numbers 40, 53 and 71 in this Compendium.
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