Uganda is grappling with land access challenges in refugee settlements due to reduced funding and food ration cuts. These challenges have had a severe impact on vulnerable refugees with limited income, many of whom struggle to afford land for cultivation as an alternative means of food production. In Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, where renting half an acre of land costs between UGX 70,000 and UGX 150,000, many refugees find it nearly impossible to secure farmland.
Despite these challenges, KRC-Uganda’s Community Peace Keepers, trained under the EU-Land Project with funding from the European Union, have played a pivotal role in managing land-related conflicts in Yangani and Abiriamajo Clusters. Through mediation and counselling sessions at the community level, they have successfully de-escalated tensions, providing inclusive conflict resolution that involves both refugees and host community members.
Key Land Issues in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement
The primary issues surrounding land access in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement include:
- High rental costs that make land unaffordable for refugees.
- Multiple landowners claiming the same land.
- Fraudulent land transactions, where the same piece of land is rented out to different tenants.
- Poor land quality, with refugees allocated rocky or unsuitable land for cultivation.
- Stray domestic and vermin animals are destroying crops.
- Boundary conflicts between individual landowners and institutions such as schools, mosques, churches, and local government authorities.
- Youth involvement in land-related disputes, sometimes through deception or manipulation.
These issues have led to frequent conflicts between refugees and host communities, threatening peaceful coexistence and food security.
KRC-Uganda’s Community-Based Approach to Conflict Resolution
To effectively address these challenges, KRC-Uganda has established robust community-based structures that facilitate conflict identification, reporting, and resolution. These structures involve representatives from the refugee and host communities, ensuring inclusivity in decision-making.
Key interventions include:
- Conflict Early Warning (CEW) System – Reports on land disputes are logged into an online system, generating analytical reports that guide stakeholders on appropriate actions. https://krc-earlywarningsystem.com/
- Community Mediation and Counselling – KRC-Uganda Peace Keepers conduct mediation sessions, enabling affected parties to discuss grievances, acknowledge missteps, and find mutually acceptable solutions.
- Case Referral for Complex Disputes – Criminal and highly complex cases are referred to relevant authorities for further action.
Impact of Peacekeeping Efforts
Through continuous mediation and awareness creation, land-related conflicts have significantly reduced in Yangani and Abiriamajo Clusters. Community Peace Keepers play a key role in ensuring landowners and tenants remain accountable, reducing instances of fraudulent land transactions and disputes.
Mrs. Unia Atai, a Peace Keeper and Woman Representative in Yangani Cluster, shared her perspective:
“Our work as Peace Keepers has truly reduced land-related conflicts in our communities. Both landowners and tenants are now more cautious, knowing that any fraudulent transactions can be easily exposed and addressed.”
Understanding the Root Causes of Land Disputes
Several factors continue to fuel land-related tensions in Bidibidi Camp Refugee Settlement, including:
- Competition for scarce resources such as land, water, and firewood.
- Unclear land ownership and usage rights, leading to disputes over control.
- Population growth, as refugee families reunite and the host community expands.
- Cultural and language differences, which sometimes hinder communication and mutual understanding.
- Religious diversity occasionally contributes to misunderstandings and disagreements.
While progress has been made, continued efforts are needed to ensure sustainable land access and peaceful coexistence. Strengthening community peace structures, enhancing land governance mechanisms, and providing alternative livelihood options for refugees will be crucial in preventing future conflicts and fostering long-term stability.
By Francis Happy Muhindo
Peace and Conflict Manager
BidiBidi Refugee Settlement
