Communities Push Government to Resolve Rwenzori Land Disputes

Communities in the Rwenzori Sub-region are pressing the government to turn promises made during Land Awareness Week into action on long-running land disputes.

Residents presented petitions to Lands Minister Harriet Ntabazi, asking for intervention in conflicts that continue to affect livelihoods and access to land. Ntabazi received the concerns and said the government would follow up on them.

“We have received the concerns raised by the communities, and we are committed to following them up. We believe that about 90 percent of these land issues can be resolved very soon,” Ntabazi said.

The minister called on civil society organisations to strengthen public education on land rights, including residents’ rights and responsibilities in land ownership and management. She also urged magistrates and judges handling land cases to give them proper attention and resolve them within a reasonable time.

Ntabazi said faster handling could prevent disputes from escalating and help affected communities obtain justice. With Land Awareness Week ending, residents are now waiting to see whether the commitments made by the government will produce concrete action and resolve the disputes they raised.

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We have received the concerns raised by the communities, and we are committed to following them up. We believe that about 90 percent of these land issues can be resolved very soon.