Kapchorwa/Kween – Communities in the Sebei sub-region are renewing their calls for justice, resettlement, and sustainable land use, as decades of displacement and land conflicts continue to shape their lives.
Their voices rang strongly during the 9th Annual National Land Awareness Week (LAW), held from August 25–29, 2025. The annual initiative, spearheaded by civil society partners alongside the Ministry of Lands, Housing & Urban Development, aimed to sensitise communities on their land rights, strengthen governance, and empower the most vulnerable—including women and displaced persons.
In August 2024, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Annet Anita Among, wrote to the Minister of Lands raising concern over widespread land grabbing in the lower belts of Kween and Kapchorwa districts. Her intervention followed an urgent appeal from Hon. Cherukut Rose Emma, the Woman Member of Parliament for Kween District, who highlighted the devastating impact of the disputes.
According to Hon. Cherukut’s letter dated July 10, 2024, the land conflicts trace back to the turbulent years before the NRM government assumed power. During that period, the Sabiny people fled their ancestral lands due to frequent raids by the Karamojong and Pokot cattle rustlers. This displacement created a vacuum that was later exploited by 13 individuals, who allegedly grabbed approximately 10,000 acres of land. These individuals are accused of illegally selling the land to unsuspecting buyers and companies for a total of 17 billion shillings.
Land: Blessing and Source of Conflict
In Kapchorwa, Sakajja Martin, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), underscored the centrality of land to the Sebei people. “Land is a very critical factor of production in Kapchorwa. In fact, land here is among the most expensive (about Shs20m an acre) in the country because of its fertility and agricultural potential. But this high demand has also fueled conflicts. In our office, we receive three to five land-related cases every day, ranging from boundary disputes to ownership wrangles,” he said.
Sakajja said many grievances stem from the gazettement of Mount Elgon as a national park in 1983. “People were displaced when Mount Elgon was declared a national park. Government promised to resettle them, but the process was never formalized in Parliament. That is why conflict with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) continues today,” he explained.
Stories of Displacement
For communities in Kween District, the issue is deeply personal. Speaking from Kapkwata IDP Camp in Kwanyiy Subcounty, Mwanga Steven Muyeti, chairperson of a local lobby group, painted a dark picture of life without permanent settlement.
“We were evicted from our ancestral land in Kapkwata, and for more than a decade we have lived without dignity. Corruption fueled by greed among leaders has undermined accountability, and the poor are left to suffer,” Mwanga said.
He added that women bear the heaviest burden: “Women are the worst affected. They provide food for their families but face severe barriers because of land insecurity and poverty. We are not asking for charity—we are asking for justice and the chance to contribute meaningfully to Uganda’s development.”
Members of the Kisito and Rwanda-Kisangani communities reported a lack of latrines, poor housing, and limited schooling for children. Mwanga revealed that 256 families remain in camps, though “UWA claims to recognize only 39 families, working with some MPs to downplay the crisis”.
Historical Roots of the Conflict
Masaba Isaac, Senior Land Management Officer in Kween, traced the challenges back to decades of resettlement and migration. “Government allocated 6,000 hectares in 1983 for Benet resettlement, but migrants fleeing Karamojong raids were also settled there. Some indigenous families were left out altogether, and by the early 1990s, their homes were burnt down. Today, thousands remain in temporary settlements like Yatui and Kisito, over 40 years later,” Masaba explained.
The result has been constant disputes over boundaries, with families outside the 6,000 hectares branded as “encroachers.” “Those outside the 6,000 hectares are technically ‘encroachers.’ They are denied basic services like schools and health centers because they live inside a protected area. This has perpetuated poverty and fueled constant clashes with UWA,” he said.
He further captured the cultural importance of land to the Sebei people: “For us, the Sabiny, we die for three things: land, cattle, and women. In Kween, most conflicts are about land. People are being evicted, and powerful individuals are taking over fertile land while the poor are left in hunger.”
Broken Promises and Ignored Court Orders
In Kween District, local leaders accused UWA of disregarding court decisions meant to protect communities. Sakit Paul, LCII Chairperson of Dhiukad Sub-County, recalled a key ruling nearly two decades ago:
“In 2005, with support from ActionAid, we won a consent judgment in the High Court in Mbale against UWA. The judgment recognised our right to stay, but up to now, it has never been respected. Our people’s crops are destroyed by rangers, and there has never been compensation. We have the documents, names of victims, and photographic evidence, but the government has remained silent,” he said.
Kiriki Subcounty LCIII Chairperson, Alfred Chelimo, highlighted illiteracy, land grabbing, and unresolved conflicts with UWA as the biggest challenges facing his community. “Our people are suffering because they don’t know their rights. Illiteracy keeps them vulnerable, and powerful individuals take advantage to grab land. On top of that, wild animals continue to kill people and destroy crops, yet government has never compensated us. These unfulfilled promises have left our people hopeless,” Chelimo said.
Community leaders lamented that engagements with UWA have often been fruitless. “We attend meetings, but the minutes are never shared. Sometimes they are rewritten to favor UWA. We survive on water sources, vegetables, and herbs from inside the park, but we are treated like criminals for accessing them,” said David Tiyoy, LCII Chairperson of Cherantut Parish, Kwosir Sub-county.
Elder Francis Barbel of Yatui echoed the frustrations: “Seventeen years in a temporary settlement is unacceptable. We have no latrines, no infrastructure, and no dignity. Government must either recognize our settlements as permanent or allocate us land.”
Mande David, a Resident of Yatui Sub-Village in Benet Community, summed up the generational pain: “We did not find the mountain—the mountain found us here. For 40 years, we have been caught between conservation and survival. It is time for government to act fairly and humanely.”
Women’s Voices
Women in Sebei raised concerns about exclusion from land ownership and inheritance. In the Sebei culture, women are pressured to give birth to many children in search of a boy, since the number of sons determines their chances of inheriting ancestral land.
“Even when women contribute to buying land, they are only listed as witnesses,” said one community representative. “This has forced many girls into early marriage because their families have lost fertile land.”
The Legal Lens
Lawyers and human rights defenders stressed that communities should not lose hope. “It is unacceptable for citizens to be shot, brutalized, or denied access to life-sustaining resources under the guise of conservation,” said Deborah Lwanga Marie, a human rights lawyer.
“Temporary settlements cannot last decades. Communities who have lived on land for more than 12 years uninterrupted deserve permanent recognition under the law.”
Christine Nabunya, another lawyer, reminded participants that the Constitution and existing laws already protect them: “Every Ugandan has the right to own and use land. We have laws like the Land Act and the Registration of Titles Act. The challenge here is not the law—it is weak leadership and lack of political will. Without recognition at central government level, these communities will remain voiceless.”
Government and UWA’s Position
Officials from the Ministry of Lands pledged to continue engaging with affected communities. Byantalo Hassan Abdallah, an advocate with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, said the matter has already attracted the attention of high-ranking officials, including Lands Minister Hon. Judith Nabakooba.
“Our Minister, Hon. Judith Nabakooba, is aware of this matter. As Ministry officials, we are committed to producing a detailed report on this matter and submitting it to the Minister,” said Byantalo.
He noted that once the report is compiled, it will go to Cabinet for a final decision. “I also urge local leaders and community members to continue engaging their MP, who can amplify their voices at the highest levels.”
From the conservation side, UWA spokesperson Bashir Hangi denied accusations of brutality. “These allegations are not new but they are untrue. Surely, we cannot enter a community and start arresting innocent people. People are only stopped when they encroach into protected areas. If they cultivate inside a national park, we do not allow those crops to grow because it is illegal to cultivate inside a wildlife protected area.”
Hangi also dismissed as untrue allegations that some UWA officials not only use deadly force against residents but also allegedly sexually assault women. “We have some leaders who are anti-conservation, some even incite communities against UWA. We are not above the law, and even internally, we have our own disciplinary procedure for handling indiscipline, but we have not received such complaints. We hear them in the media and in meetings when communities are meeting people from outside. We request them to report to us such cases when they happen or report to the police.”
To address this, a committee chaired by the area RDC—together with leaders from the region, representatives of UWA, and other stakeholders—was established to assess the situation and recommend solutions. A report was prepared and submitted to the Head of State, and now awaits further guidance on how best to permanently resolve this matter.
“We are working closely with local leaders, UWA, and other stakeholders to ensure fair mediation and long-term solutions that balance conservation, community rights, and development needs,” RDC Sakajja told SoftPower News in an interview.
Civil Society’s Call
Civil society organisations vowed to stand with the affected communities until a permanent solution is reached.
“Illegal evictions are on the rise, and many displaced persons have been forgotten. This is not just a land issue—it is a human rights issue,” said Esther Kisembo, Fair Green and Global Coordinator at ActionAid International Uganda. “We are preparing a petition to the Minister of Lands, but our follow-up will not stop there. We will keep pushing until communities are protected.”
The Land Awareness Week brought together stakeholders including ActionAid, LandNet, PELUM Uganda, and ESAFF Uganda, alongside government representatives. By providing a platform for communities to speak, the event highlighted both the deep wounds of displacement and the possibilities of healing through justice, recognition, and sustainable land use.
