Building peace in Northern Uganda by transforming conflict over natural resources

Context

After years of armed conflict and insecurity, Uganda’s North has experienced a post-conflict era marked by displacement, food shortages and frequent droughts.

While considered mostly peaceful over the last 20 years, rapid changes including population movements and expanding economic developments have resulted in conflicts over land and other natural resources – between and within communities, the government and private investors.

Consequently, the increasing demand for land, grazing areas and natural resources has become the central subject of conflict – especially for vulnerable groups.

Objective

A network of partners formed into interest groups are transforming existing conflicts over natural resources.

Approach

The GIZ Civil Peace Service works together with over 150 partners representing civil society organisations, local and regional government, academia as well as cultural and spiritual leaders organised through a network of interest groups (IGs).

Together, they work on transforming conflicts over natural resources caused by insecurity, large-scale investments, environment and protected areas, as well as supporting governance of customary land including women’s land rights.

Supported by CPS programme advisors, the IGs work closely with communities providing platforms for dialogue, mediation, learning and exchange. Access to information on land management and protection of land rights is central to this process.

The annual Multi-Stakeholder Meeting is used for conflict analysis and discussion and is essential to readjust the mandates of the IGs by re-evaluating the peace work and ownership of the stakeholders involved.

This year, the ‘Dealing with the Past’ component was added to the programme, addressing conflicts related to ethnic and historical grievances to pro-actively prevent conflicts from reoccurring.

Last update: August 2023