The Paramount Chief of Acholi, Rwot Achana II (David Onen Acana II), has called for a partnership between traditional leaders in Acholi and the Land Management Centre in Matugga, Wakiso District, in a move aimed at improving land dispute resolution and protecting customary land rights.
The cultural leader made the appeal during a visit to the centre, where he praised an approach associated with Gen. Salim Saleh that emphasises dialogue, reliable land information and negotiated settlements as alternatives to prolonged court battles.
The centre, also referred to in the visit notes as the Equatorial Equity Land Management Centre, was launched in July 2026 under Gen. Saleh’s guidance to help individuals and communities address competing land claims and identify opportunities for productive land use.
Rwot Achana said the model could help Acholi communities strengthen their traditional conflict-resolution systems by incorporating professional expertise, improved land records and structured negotiations.
“In Acholi, we have a similar process of managing land conflicts, but ours is only composed of the traditional system. We need to upgrade like this Centre so that we can bring on board experts as well,” he said.
He explained that customary institutions have historically played a central role in managing land disputes in Acholi. However, population movements, competing claims and growing interest in land for commercial investment have increased the complexity of conflicts in some communities.
The Paramount Chief said he would engage stakeholders in the sub-region to explore how the Matugga model could be adapted to Acholi’s customary land tenure system without undermining the authority of traditional institutions or the rights of local landowners.
He pointed to initiatives such as the Kirema Land Action Programme and Kirema Heritage Farm in the Luwero Triangle as examples of efforts to address land-related challenges through dialogue and negotiated arrangements.
According to the cultural leader, combining traditional knowledge with professional land management could help communities establish ownership claims, resolve disagreements and create conditions for more productive use of land.
Rwot Achana also cautioned against arrangements in which intermediaries introduce themselves as investors without clearly explaining the terms, timelines and expected benefits of proposed projects to landowners.
He observed that some communities expect immediate financial returns when they hear that an investor is interested in their land, yet commercial projects may take years to generate meaningful income.
“When you talk about an investor, people expect cash, yet in the actual sense it is a long process of investments and the cash comes much later,” he said.
He stressed that communities must understand investment proposals before agreeing to make their land available for commercial ventures.
Clear communication, he argued, is necessary to prevent misunderstandings and ensure that landowners are aware of their rights, the nature of proposed investments and the benefits they stand to receive.
The proposed partnership could therefore provide a platform for Acholi leaders to scrutinise investment arrangements more effectively and encourage agreements that balance commercial interests with community welfare.
Prof. John Kigula, the centre’s executive director and a long-time adviser to Gen. Saleh on land matters, welcomed the Paramount Chief’s visit, describing the institution as a platform for helping people facing competing land claims and unresolved disputes.
Kigula said the centre seeks to facilitate dispute resolution by providing dependable land information and bringing the parties involved together to negotiate practical solutions.
The approach is intended to help disputing parties establish the relevant facts and explore mutually acceptable settlements without automatically resorting to lengthy litigation.
However, negotiated settlements do not replace the courts where parties cannot agree, ownership remains contested or legal intervention is necessary to protect the rights of those involved.
Land remains a critical economic and social resource in Acholi, where customary and communal ownership arrangements continue to play a significant role in community life.
Disputes can become complicated when customary claims intersect with formal land documentation, competing family interests or proposed commercial developments.
Gen. Saleh, who serves as Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation, has been involved in initiatives aimed at improving land security and encouraging productive land use. These efforts have included discussions with Acholi Members of Parliament on Certificates of Customary Ownership and commercial agricultural partnerships.
Certificates of Customary Ownership can help document rights held under customary tenure, but their effectiveness depends on proper verification, meaningful community participation and compliance with Uganda’s land laws.
Any effort to strengthen land management in Acholi will therefore need to ensure that customary ownership is respected, vulnerable landholders are protected and investment agreements are transparent and legally sound.
For traditional leaders, the challenge is not only to resolve existing disputes but also to prevent new conflicts arising from unclear ownership, inadequate documentation or poorly understood investment arrangements.
Rwot Achana’s visit signals interest in exploring a model that combines traditional dispute-resolution mechanisms with technical expertise and more reliable land information.
If developed with adequate safeguards, the proposed collaboration could help Acholi communities address land conflicts more effectively while creating opportunities for agriculture, investment and economic development.
