Post-conflict northern Uganda has witnessed an increase in disputes over land. This has, to a great extent, been as a result of the armed conflict and its aftermath. Beyond that, other chaotic factors embedded in various social, legal, economic, and political aspects of this society have influenced the nature, gravity, and dynamics of these disputes and the way in which Traditional Institutions and the Local Council Courts have attempted to resolve them. Using examples from field research in Acholiland and an analysis of human rights relating to dispute resolution, this paper shows the linkages between (1) the chaotic factors in Northern Uganda, (2) the diverse and unique contestations on land, and (3) the role of Traditional Institutions and Local Council Courts. The paper argues that processes to improve the operation of Local Council Courts and Traditional Institutions may not succeed without simultaneous efforts to do away with the effects of the chaotic environment within which they operate.
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ROSE NAKAYI
The Danish Institute for Human Rights is an independent state-funded institution. Our mandate is to promote and protect human rights and equal treatment in Denmark and abroad.
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Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) is an independent public policy research and advocacy think tank based in Uganda working in East and Southern Africa. ACODE was first registered in 1999 as a Non-governmental organization (NGO). In 2004, the organization was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee and without having a share capital. ACODE is one of the most dynamic and robust regional leaders in cutting-edge public policy research and analysis in a range of areas including governance, trade, environment, and science and technology.