An exploration of the intricacies of policing land conflicts in Wakiso district

Abstract

The study is about and majorly aims at investigating the intricacies of policing land conflicts in Wakiso district. the specific objectives included to find out the causes of land conflicts in Wakiso district, find out the challenges affecting policing of land conflicts in Wakiso district and to identify the strategies to improve policing of land conflicts in Wakiso district. Relevant literature was assessed in relation to the study. The study adopted a mixed method design. This is because using multiple sources of data or multiple approaches to analyzing data help to enhance and compliment the credibility of a research study findings. The sample size was 60 respondents including ten (10) Officers on the land desk twenty-five (25) Community leaders and twenty-five Victims of land conflicts. The study used both purposive sampling and random sampling to select the respondents. The study employed both oral interviews and focus group discussions to collect data from the respondents. The study established that the causes of land conflicts included rapid development of the area, population increase, family disputes, social discrimination, perception that peaceful action is no longer available strategy for the change, illiteracy rates, back up of government officials, unclear policies and laws regarding land ownership and dishonesty among land owners. The study found out that the challenges limiting policing of land conflicts included insecurity of the tenure, threatening of police officers, corruption, godfather ship, forgery of the land titles, lack of professional training, insufficient investigation and inadequate resources at the station. The study established the strategies for improving the policing of land conflicts to include sensitization of the people, strengthening local councils in parishes and villages, increased facilitation of the police, setting a clear mandate of the Land Protection Department of the Uganda Police, preparing ownership documents, non-equal application of law, refresher training for police officers, improving the police community relations and increase the manpower in the district. The study recommended that only legitimate institutions mandated by law to govern land matters should have control over the land question, there is need for a comprehensive restructuring of the ULC with a view to strengthening its independence and autonomy and to insulate it from the nefarious influence of political actors, the printing and distribution of original boundary maps needs to be immediately undertaken with the aim of solving district boundary disputes all over the country and there is need for training of police land desk officers in current policies and land tenure systems its interpretation access, ownership and rights. This will help the investigating officers working in police land desks to be conversant with the land laws.