Uganda: Conflict Assessment Report for the Months of October 2017
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UGANDA: CONFLICT ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR THE MONTHS OF OCTOBER 2017 Issue date: 16th November 2017 Disclaimer This publication was produced for review by the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Supporting Access to Justice, Fostering Equity & Peace (SAFE) Program. The author’s views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. National Overview Conflict monitors who reported conflict incidents in their communities this month were from the districts of Dokolo, and Kitgum in Northern Uganda; Jinja, Iganga, Kamuli, Pallisa and Mbale in Eastern Uganda; and Kyegegwa, Rukungiri, Masindi, and Bullisa in Western Uganda. Conflict monitors report these conflict incidents to SAFE’s conflict monitoring database using a toll free SMS service. The SAFE program has more than five hundred (500) volunteer conflict monitors countrywide. 44% of the conflict incidents reported this month to SAFE’s conflict monitoring database were politically related conflicts. This can be attributed to the on-going countrywide national consultations on the removal of the presidential age limit from the Uganda Constitution. Under the existing constitution (article 102b), a person standing for president must be under seventy five (75) years of age - which would make President Yoweri Museveni, 73, ineligible to stand in the next polls in 2021. The move to amend the constitution has met widespread opposition from civil rights activists, opposition politicians and religious leaders. During the consultation meetings, tension has run very high and there have been incidents of violence like in Rukungiri District in western Uganda where one person was shot dead during a consultation meeting and many injured.1 In other areas, the Members of Parliament (MPs) have been assaulted and had to flee for their lives from hostile residents who are opposed to lifting of the presidential age limit and this has forced some to either cut back their countryside consultative meetings or make public commitments to abide by the wishes of their constituents not to support the proposed amendment.2 Security personnel in every district have been ordered to ensure that whoever is holding a consultative meeting, whether for or against the bill, is protected following clashes. SAFE’s conflict monitors will continue to monitor the situation countrywide. 38% of the conflict incidents reported where related to land disputes. Land conflicts in Uganda have become rampant. With rapidly growing population, the demand for land has increased in turn heightening land disputes. 1 See Western Region Section of this reporter 2 USAID SAFE Conflict Monitors-Dokolo, Iganga, Mbale, Kyegegwa, Jinja, Rukungiri, Masindi Districts 1 For instance, in Buliisa District in Western Uganda, a conflict monitor reported mounting tension between residents of Ngwedo Sub County, Nile Parish, Kasenyo Village and an Oil company (Total) which wants to take over residents’ land but is giving them inadequate compensation.3 Other conflict monitors in Kyegegwa District in western Uganda and Pallisa in Eastern Uganda reported land conflict incidents that resulted in attacks and injuries among the conflicting parties. In both incidents, police had to intervene to calm the situation although tension remains very high. Land is an important economic asset and source of livelihoods; it is also linked closely linked to community identity, history and culture. It is imperative that leaders take proactive measures to ensure growing tensions over land are resolved to prevent violent attacks including train communities on managing tensions over land and increasing knowledge about land policy and legal literacy within local communities. The GOU should ensure prompt and adequate compensation to affected communities. The GOU in September 2016 established a commission of inquiry into land issues in Uganda headed by Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire. The Commission seeks to find a solution to the land-related challenges in the country and is expected to table a comprehensive report that provides a sustainable solution. 4 Other incidents reported, revolved around crime and robbery, fighting within the Muslim community, poor service delivery, and domestic and gender based violence. 3 USAID SAFE Conflict Monitor-Buliisa District 4 http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-Land-ProbeCommittee-Catherine-Bamugemereire-Museveni/688334-3957430- 9liuigz/index.html 2 Below: Number of Reported Conflict Incidents- October 2017 Source: SAFE Conflict Monitoring Database: October 2017 Regional Overview Northern Region Tension is very high in Amuru district following a long standing land conflict at Apaa (Zoka Village) between Amuru and Adjumani Districts. Both districts are claiming the land that is about forty (40) square miles. The SAFE program has repeatedly written about this conflict.5 This month GOU finally handed over the contested piece of land to Adjumani District amidst heavy deployment saying the decision was based on the 1958 map that was drawn before Uganda got independence in 1962.6 This decision has infuriated the residents of Amuru district, who have vowed not to respect GOU’s decision. 5 USAID SAFE Monthly Conflict Assessment Reports; May 2014; Jan, March, April, September 2015; March & June 2017 6 USAID SAFE Conflict Monitors-Amuru & Adjumani District 3 There is fear that ethnic tension might escalate as the residents of Amuru are from the Acholi ethinic group while those of Adjumani District are of the Madi ethnic group. Prior to the conflict, the two communities had lived in harmony. Each community is now living in trepidation of the other and fear to cross the Zoka river boundary for fear of being attacked.7 The conflict has experience a history of violence with killing, torching of huts and injury. In April 2015, a group of female elders from the region undressed before a host of cabinet ministers who had gone to the area to demarcate the land. In Northern Uganda, the act of undressing in public is one of the highest forms of protest against real or perceived injustice. Security personnel from the police and army have been heavily deployed in the area, to prevent any attacks. USAID SAFE’s conflict monitors in the area and the recently appointed project officer based in Gulu district will continue to monitor the situation on the ground and report any incidents to SAFE’s conflict monitoring database Eastern Region Tension is rising among the Muslim community in Kamuli District following a dispute over a yet to be completed multi million one thousand seater Mosque that is being built by funders from the Middle East.8 Two factions of the Muslim sect; one aligned to the Kibuli- based Muslim faction and another aligned to the Old Kampala Muslim faction are claiming ownership of the Mosque. The two groups have been at loggerheads over property disputes with the Kibuli group accusing the Old Kampala (where the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council is based) group of improperly disposing off Muslim property.9 During the scuffle in Kamuli District, one person was killed after being hit with a piece of wood and several others were injured.10 To calm the situation and prevent further violence, the police have indefinitely suspended anyone from accessing the Mosque. There has been a long history of Muslims fighting over mosques in Uganda which has resulted into violent incidents including Nakasero Mosque in Kampala,11 Masaka Mosque, 12 and Nateete 7 ibid 8 USAID SAFE Conflict Monitor-Kamuli District 9 https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1320123/kibuli-muslim-factions-set-terms-reconciliation 10 USAID SAFE Conflict Monitor-Kamuli District 11 https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1135658/muslims-fight-mosque 12 https://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/muslim-factions-fight-to-control-masaka-central-mosque 4 Mosque among others.13 The two groups should be encouraged to dialogue in order to avoid the conflict from escalating. The Kamuli-based USAID SAFE conflict monitors will continue to monitor the situation in the district and report any incidents to SAFE’s conflict monitoring database. Western Region Tension is very high in Rukungiri District following the killing of one person during protests over the attempts to amend the presidential age limit in Uganda’s constitution.14 It all started when police blocked all routes heading to Rukungiri municipal stadium where, the area MP, Roland Mugume Kaginda was to address a consultative rally. However, police fired teargas and live bullets in the air to disperse supporters who arrived in large groups wearing red ribbons and singing, 'Otagikwataho', meaning “don't dare touch it”. This is in reference to Article 102(b) of the constitution which sets 35 and 75 years respectively, as minimum and maximum age caps for a president. It was in the process that one young man was killed and many others including policemen were seriously injured. In order to calm the situation, the area District Police Commander (who lost an eye in the fracas) was transferred from the district and the President of Uganda sent a condolence message to the deceased’s family.15 However residents are demanding that the police officer who shot should be arrested and faces the law.16 A conflict monitor from the district has written to the SAFE program to intervene by conducting training on conflict sensitive leadership and reconciliation of leaders of the different political shades in the district in order to calm the situation. 13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TEwVVXOyB0 14 USAID SAFE Conflict Monitor-Rukungiri District 15 http://theinsider.ug/index.php/2017/10/22/kayihura-sacks-rukungiri-dpc-after-losing-his-eye/ 16 USAID SAFE Conflict Monitor –Rukungiri District 5 Map of Uganda Showing The Conflict Hotspots As Highlighted In This Report Source: https://conflictmappinguganda.crowdmap.com/ For Methodology used in writing this report and for copies of previous reports, please visit www.safeprogram.ug 6 .