UGANDA: CONFLICT ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2017

Issue Date: 7th April 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

The country was gripped with shock following the assassination of the Police Force Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Andrew Felix Kaweesi.1 He was shot dead together with his driver and bodyguard on March 17th 2017 a few meters outside his home by unknown gunmen riding on two motorcycles.The identities of the perpetrators and their motive remains unknown. The killing of a well guarded senior police officer in broad day light has left many Ugandans petrified. This killing is the latest in a long list of murders that have mostly involved senior Muslim clerics, businessmen, and a judicial official that the SAFE Program has reported about extensively in previous monthly conflict assessment reports.2 More than fourteen (14) clerics have been killed in the last six (6) years and this has continued to cause increased apprehension, fear and suspicion among the Muslim community and the country at large. There have also been various attempts to kill and threaten various other Muslim clerics in the last three years; in July 2015, a gunman tried to shoot Sheikh Rashid Hamis Ismail, an Imam in one of the mosques in Arua Township; in August 2015, a senior Muslim cleric in Sheikh Yasin Kakomo fled his home after receiving numerous death threats; in September 2015, Sheikh Siraji Mwenyi narrowly survived death after being attacked by unknown gunmen who were repulsed by his police guard in , and still in September 2015 Sheikh Haruna Jemba the Parallel Amir (leader) was attacked at his home in but survived with injuries.3 On 30th March 2015, the Assistant Director of Public Prosecution, Joan Kagezi, was shot dead while on her way home by armed men riding a motorcycle.4 In November 2016 Sheikh Major Muhammad Kigundu was brutally killed together with his body guard by unknown gunmen who later took off on a motorcycle as well.5 The nature of the attacks has made it difficult for security agencies to prevent or guard against such killings. All the killings have been carried out in a similar manner involving armed men travelling on motorcycles.

1 http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Shooting-in-Kaweesi-s-home/688334-3853080-wlx1qo/index.html 2 USAID SAFE Conflict Assessment Reports: Dec 2014, Jan, March, April, May, June, July, Aug, Sept & Nov 2015, April, Nov & Dec 2016 3 USAID SAFE Conflict Assessment Reports, July August & September 2016 4 USAID SAFE Conflict Assessment Report, March 2015 5 USAID SAFE Conflict Assessment Report , Nov 2016 1

The GOU and security agencies should increase vigilance and increase security presence and foot patrols as deterrence. The GOU should continue apprehending perpetrators and bring them to justice so that Ugandans, and especially the Muslim community, can feel secure in the country.

Below: Number of Reported Conflict Incidents, March 2017

Source: SAFE Conflict Monitoring Database: March 2017

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REGIONAL OVERVIEW

Northern Region A land conflict with ethnic undertones in has led to the killing of one man and the torching of more than thirty (30) huts and destruction of property.6 A group of more than ten (10) members from the Madi ethnic community armed with machetes, spears, bows and arrows invaded Juka village in Apaa parish attacking the community and killing one person. They were claiming that the land the deceased lived on belonged to them. The long standing conflict is between the Madi ethnic group from Adjumani District and the Acholi ethnic group living in Juka village. The two ethnic groups have been clashing over the contested piece of land that is located between Adjumani and Amuru districts.7 Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), a body that manages wildlife issues in Uganda is also claiming the same piece of land. The land was demarcated in September 2015 by the government of Uganda (GOU) and handed over to Adjumani district authorities although this did not please the Acholi community.8

The SAFE program has written about this conflict extensively in previous monthly conflict assessment reports.9 Land conflicts have become rampant in Northern Uganda. Community leaders need to take a proactive lead to ensure growing tensions over land are resolved to prevent violent attacks, mob justice and revenge acts. Police has been deployed heavily in the area to calm the situation.

In the Lango, Acholi and Teso sub regions, tension is continuing to rise following the continued theft of livestock by Karimojong pastoralists in the districts of Agago, Amuria, Alebtong and Otuke. More than thirty (30) livestock have been stolen and are suspected to be in the hands of the pastoralists who moved into the area in search of water and pasture of their livestock following the prolonged dry season.10

In the SAFE program’s February 2017 conflict assessment report, it was reported that Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Lango sub region under their umbrella Lango

6 USAID SAFE Conflict Monitor-Adjumani District 7 http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Government-Acholi-leaders-meet-to-end-Apaa-land-conflict/688334-2708284- 3dypqr/index.html 8 USAID SAFE Conflict Assessment Report, September 2015 9 USAID SAFE Conflict Assessment Reports; May 2014, Jan, March, April & Sept 2015 10 USAID SAFE Conflict Monitor- 3

Parliamentary group had resolved to chase back all Karimojong herdsmen while the Local Council had passed a resolution to evict all the Karamojong accusing them of raping, stealing food and beating people. Following this tension, GOU had resolved to steadily withdraw the herdsmen from the area. It is imperative that both communities co exist. In , herdsmen in the area have been given a two week ultimatum by the district council to vacate the land which they are illegally occupying in the two constituencies of Moyo West and Obongi.11 The residents accuse the herdsmen of destroying their food crops while grazing their cattle on their farms. Conflicts between cultivators and herdsmen are on the increase especially following the long dry season. In the November 2016 conflict assessment, the SAFE program reported on the incident in where the District Local council (LC5) chairman Martin Ojara had issued a two day ultimatum to the herdsmen to vacate Palaro Sub County or risk having their livestock confiscated. This followed a public outcry that the livestock had destroyed acres of farmlands which is the main source of livelihood for the locals. There have also been similar incidents in Kitgum and Nebbi districts. There is urgent need to mitigate these types of conflicts. Local communities should work together to demarcate grazing areas and water sources for livestock in areas occupied by both farmers and herdsmen. Still in Moyo district, tensions are rising following a long standing border conflict at Kali village between Moyo and Yumbe districts.12 A reconciliation meeting that was to be held this month flopped after Moyo district leaders refused to attend saying the venue of the reconciliation talks was not neutral. In 2012 and in 2014, the dispute over this area led to bloody clashes.13 The GOU and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) should train communities on managing tensions over land. The GOU should also clearly demarcate internal boundaries to avoid border disputes within Uganda. In , tension is rising in Imvepi refugee settlement camp following tribal clashes between members of the Dinka ethnic group and other south Sudanese refugees.14 The Dinkas were attacked by their colleagues who also burnt their property. They had just arrived at the camp from South Sudan when they were descended upon having being

11 USAID SAFE Conflict Monitor- Moyo District 12 Ibid 13 https://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/border-dispute-disrupts-population-census-in-moyo-yumbe-districts 14 USAID SAFE Conflict Monitor-Arua District 4 accused of causing mayhem back in South Sudan and forcing them to become refugees. Some of the Dinkas reportedly had uniform of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) which increased the anger of the other South Sudanese. Still in the same camp, local residents attacked humanitarian workers accusing them of failing to recruit them in different employment positions in the camp which now houses more than 45.000 refugees. They put barricades on the roads leading to the camp and burnt different items including vehicles. Rising social tension between refugees and host communities and within the refugee community themselves has the potential to degenerate into secondary conflict in host communities. There is need to manage any tensions that might arise because of the influx of refugees between the refugees and host communities, but also, tension amongst refugees themselves before they escalate into violent conflict.

Eastern Region In the Teso sub region, residents in Amuria and Katakwi districts are living in fear following an invasion by stray buffalos that have attacked residents and destroyed food crops.15 The buffalos have forced residents to stay indoors and some students are not able to go to school for fear of being attacked. The situation is worse at night when the buffalos freely roam the area. The community is appealing to UWA to drive out the buffalos back to the protected areas. According to UWA, more than 300 buffalos have left the game reserves of Matheniko and Bokora and crossed over to Teso in search of water and pasture.16 In revenge, some residents have resorted to killing some of the buffalos but UWA is warning that the buffalos might return and harm the residents. Various communities living near national parks have experienced a similar dilemma before and the SAFE program has reported about them extensively in previous conflict assessment reports.17 The SAFE program is aware that as human populations expand and natural habitats shrink, people and animals are increasingly coming into conflict over living space and food. The animals, many of which are already threatened or endangered, are often killed in retaliation or to prevent future conflict. GOU and UWA should sensitise

15 USAID SAFE Conflict Monitor- 16 Daily Monitor, 30th March 2017 17 USAID SAFE Conflict Assessment Reports-April & August, 2015, 5 locals on harmonious living with wild animals and how to exploit them as community tourism. Tension is rising in District over a proposed annexation of Rubongi sub county of West Budama South County to Tororo Municipality. The proposed annexation has been greatly opposed by residents of Tororo County saying it is intended to alter their original boundaries and undermine their efforts to get district status. However those proposing the idea say it will bring services closer to the people. During a recent district council meeting to discuss the issue, tempers flared and security had to be heavily deployed. The meeting had to be adjourned till further notice. The dispute has also take an ethnic dimension as Rubongi is predominantly inhabited by the Japadhola ethnic group while Tororo Municipality is inhabited by the Itesot and other ethnic groups. Tensions between different ethnic communities in Tororo District have in recent years tended to escalate particularly in matters related to boundaries.

Western Region

More than ten (10) people were severely injured during a land conflict between pastoralists and cultivators in Kabukero, Mubuku zone .18 The pastoralists who are of the Basongora ethnic group accuse the cultivators who are of the Bakonzo ethnic group of encroaching on their land. The clashes were sparked off as cultivators went to plant crops in their purported gardens which they claim GOU gave to the pastoralists

without their consent. The two groups have been clashing over land for many years.19 In 2012 the cultivators sued government for giving their land to the pastoralists. It is imperative that a land use plan, which will evidently identify areas under pastoralists’ ownership and those controlled by cultivators, should be drawn up. Both groups should be involved in the negotiation process, and there must be a forum for them to openly talk about their concerns. The SAFE Program’s conflict monitors in the district will continue to monitor the situation on the ground.

18 USAID SAFE Conflict Monitor- Kasese District 19 http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Basongora-Bakonzo-wrangle--A-looming-tribal-bloodbath-/688334-1446554-tcayeu/index.html

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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

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