UGANDA

COMPENDIUM OF CONFLICTS IN UGANDA
particular by UPDF and Government officers, featured prominently.
Oil-related conflicts over land between the State and citizens
Increasingly, citizens
have had conflicts with
Government related
to the oil discoveries
and consequent land
dispossession in the
oil exploration belt.
Participants in the Albertain
region and Acholi subregion
said they have
become mistrustful, and
they questioned the
Government’s motives
and handling of oil
exploration. They do not
believe the process thus
far has been transparent.
Instead they consider it
corrupt and exploitative
of local resources without
corresponding benefits.
A participant in Hoima said;
“We only see big vehicles passing, spoiling our roads, and
now we hear that they are going to construct an oil refinery.”
In Gulu and Kitgum, participants wondered why the oil is refered to as “Bunyoro oil”
when some oil wells are indeed within Acholiland. In Arua and Bundibugyo, the lack
of transparency with regards to oil prospecting, extraction and revenue sharing was
also discussed, and participants expressed a high level of suspicion in the process. Highranking
Government officials were alleged to be buying large chunks of land in the area
under a veil of secrecy.
Conflicts over land between the rich and poor
It was said that the wide gap between the rich and poor in society shows its face in
conflict over land. When a conflict arises, the poor have no access to justice. In Tororo,
one participant stated
“Someone who is poor cannot have justice,” and that “If
there is a rich man who wants to grab land, they can win
the case.”
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