Jacob Waiswa, Peace and
Conflict Graduate Program, Department of Religion and Peace Studies,
Makerere-University, Kampala-Uganda
The
theme, ‘land within the framework of conflict and peace,’ provides an understanding
of conflicts and land related forms of conflict in Uganda, and the attitudes
formed surrounding their investment on land, implication of land conflicts and
possible solutions for peace.
The author dwells on qualitative reviews of
events surrounding land and conflicts in Uganda, using archives of colonial
history, reports, and modern experiences of land politics, law, and violence.
Primary data was particularly used to find out attitudes of Ugandans towards
foreign investment in Kampala City.
In
attempt to conceptualize land within the frameworks of peace and conflict, the
concerns, which are often neglected by leaders, misconception of conflict and
its extent, development interests tendency to skip environment and development
needs of the majority poor, the consensual stand on land being a source of
conflict, the life-threatening implication of land conflicts, and the attempts
so far sought to address them, are found.
With
population rise at unstoppable rate, land conflicts are bound to increase, and
increase threats to human life. Re-conceptualization of land conflict,
awareness, democratic economic governance, population control is crucial
considerations for peace.
