OKOT ALFRED OCHEN 1 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE TRADITIONAL ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND FORMAL/ LEGAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS IN LAND CLAIMS AND ALLOCATIONS FOR THE INDIGENOUS DISPLACED RETURNESS IN AMURU DISTRICT, NORTHERN UGANDA By Okot Afred Ochen B.A, Environmental Management, 2001 Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda Environmental Technology. Camosun College, 2006 A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS In CONFLICT ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard. ______ John Radford, PhD Academic Supervisor ______ Fred Oster, PhD Program Head, Conflict Analysis and Management __________ Gregory Cran, PhD Director, School of Peace and Conflict Management ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY July 2009 Library and Archives Bibliothèque et Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de l’édition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-56747-0 Our file Notre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-56747-0 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non- L’auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant à la Bibliothèque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par télécommunication ou par l’Internet, prêter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des thèses partout dans le loan, distribute and sell theses monde, à des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non- support microforme, papier, électronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. 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OKOT ALFRED OCHEN 2 Acknowledgements My special thanks to my thesis advisor Dr. John Radford, PhD, who has been the greatest source of direction, encouragement and understanding throughout this work. I am indebted to Dr .John Radford for his invaluable support, tolerance and for having trust and confidence in me. I am also indebted and grateful to Dr. Fred Oster for the care, encouragement and tremendous support he offered me during the course of my studies at Royal Roads University. I am grateful to Laura Beauchamp and Lou Mitchell, who read several drafts, offering insights and ideas. Laura and Lou were always there for me during challenging times and encouraged me to keep moving forward with this rigorous academic project. I appreciate all their humanitarian help and friendship. Special thanks to Brenda, Cristy Mclennan and Mark. I am especially indebted for their guidance and care on issues regarding my school logistics. I would also like to thank the Goods for Cuba, Victoria chapter members for their support and friendship. My thanks to the Internally Displaced people in Nywoya and Kilak Counties for their cooperation during my research studies in Amuru district, Northern Uganda. I would like to thank the local leadership among the Internally Displaced returnees for their cooperation, while this research was in the field seeking for help and guidance on land claims and ownership in the new district. To my family, I am indebted to you for your love, undying support, and incredible words of encouragement and patience with my continual cycle of new endeavors. Without your faith and belief in me, I would not have the strength or capacity to reach such levels of personal achievements. I only hope that you know how completely it is reciprocated The above people contributed immensely by encouraging and asking me questions on how I was faring during the course of this research project OKOT ALFRED OCHEN 3 Dedication To those who have been the light and hope in my long and thorny endeavours: I dedicate this piece of work to my family and friends who have always been around me during the most challenging moments of my life. To my dear Dad Albert Joe Ocen, who has always been very supportive and a great source of inspiration in all my daily struggles. My dear mom, Magreate Aryemo who the lord called over a decade ago “while you were around you always advocated for justice, fairness and reconciliation’’ And to my comrade Jonathan Chavez Amuka you are a star and a great source of inspiration in my life. OKOT ALFRED OCHEN 4 ABSTRACT When symbolically or emotionally important land or property is at issue, chances of conflict will increase significantly. Rebuilding institutional structures such as justice system is a difficult task, particularly in societies torn apart by internal war such as Northern Uganda which has been at war for over twenty two years. This research study explores the reality of indigenous displaced returnees from the Amuru District in post armed conflict in Uganda. This research project compares the informal dispute resolution and the legal or formal dispute resolution system in land claim conflict from the experience of the displaced returnees. A number of recommendations for managing this type of conflict are made including the need to establish hybrid alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in addressing natural resource based issues such as land. Also through conducting public education about the significance of embracing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in addressing incompatible land issues among population in Amuru district Northern Uganda. The most prominent element in this study is that both the Afro centric and Eurocentric justice systems are still being applied in resolving the incompatible land issues among the internally displaced returnees. The Afro centric justice system was more informal; it always endeavored to strike a middle ground while addressing land concerns and issues among the internally displaced people, while the legal justice system has always attempted to address land issues by ensuring that rightful owners prevails in the court system. Hence, this project provided the researcher with an opportunity to compare the experiences of the internally displaced people in seeking land justice in their communities. It also provided us with rich experiences that enabled us to design a sustainable land dispute alternative resolution mechanism in the post-war Northern Uganda. OKOT ALFRED OCHEN 5 Table of Contents Page title……………………………………………………………………….…………..1 Acknowledgments…………………………………………………………………………3 Dedication…………………………………………………………………………………4 Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………5 Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………….5 Chapter 1: Introduction……………………………………………………………........8 1.1 Overview of the conflict……………………………………………………………..11 1.2 The nature of land conflict in Amuru district: ………………………………………12 1.3 Conceptual frameworks of the research…………………….……………………….13 Chapter 2: Literature Review……………………………………………………….....16 2.1The significance of Land in Post Armed Conflict……………………….…………...16 2.2 A theoretical framework for land Claim in Northern Uganda……………………….24 Chapter 3: Methodology……………………………………………………………......29 3.1 Research questions………………………………………………………………......29 3.2 Research sub questions………………………………………………………………29 3.3 Research hypothesis………………………………………………………………….29 3.4 Sources of information……………………………………………………………….30 3.5 Methodology approach…………………….………………………………………...31 3.6 methodology process …..............................................................................................33 3.7 Ethical considerations………………………………………………………………..34 3.8 Data collection..................................................................................................….......35 3.9 Data Analysis…………………………………………………………...……………36 Chapter 4: Research Results overview………………………………………………..37 4.1 Demographic data on Amuru district………………………………………..............38 4.2 Research Respondents.……………………………………………………………...39 Chapter 5: General Research Findings on land claims and allocations…………….41 Chapter 5.1: Land claim expectations……………………………………………………43 Chapter 5:2 Land justice system…………………………………………………………44 OKOT ALFRED OCHEN 6 Chapter 5: 3 Knowledge of land ownership and land rights……………………………..47 Chapter 5:4 Land claim conflict…………………………………………………………50 Chapter: 5:5 Quotations from the research participants…………………………………55 Chapter 6: Research discussions and Analysis on land ownership and claims……..56 Chapter 6:1 Land claim expectations…………………………………………………….56 Chapter 6:2 Land justice system…………………………………………………………70 Chapter 6:3 Knowledge of land ownership and land rights……………………………...72 Chapter 6:4 Land claim conflict…………………………………………………………79 Chapter 7: Conclusion…………………………………………………………………98 Chapter7:1Recommendations……………………………………………………...…...100