I have not been able to write for some time. Not deliberately, but I have been busy editing our local newspaper. So many things have happened so fast that it is hard to believe one month has passed. For example, a member of parliament beating up teachers for alleged drunkenness, to children who have been born with deformed limbs and to communities’ outright conflicts over land. The most shocking of all is the way the communities have reacted on the issue of land.
For example, I was shocked to say the least, to see a young Canadian man being paraded in our local police station for allegedly participating in conning local people of their land. We published the story and it passed just like that.
Land issues are very sensitive here. It is one of those things rated highly here. People have been murdered over land in the recent past. For example, a young man and a father were brutally slaughtered in broad day light by unknown people. In a separate incidence, a young man was shot dead as he was trying to get out of his hut in the night. All these gruesome murders have been linked to conflicts of over land.
The local authorities have not come out clearly with the actual cause and motive but continue insisting that ‘investigations into the matters are ongoing.’ Authorities have also linked these murders to many illegal guns within the communities. Recently, the local authorities issued ultimatum to all illegal guns possessors to surrender their weapons before they swing into action.
Indeed, they have swung into action and made arrests. The most recent was the arrest of four people in possession of illegal guns and alleged killing of a local peasant in the community, here. In the group was a woman.
Government here has been of the view of drafting a law that will give the investors opportunity to get land for development and investment. The thinking behind this argument is that, more jobs will be provided to local people in the long run. Government also further argues that, the law will give more power to land owners. The opposition is seeing it as the rich grabbing land from rightful (very poor people) owners.
However, it appears government and the opposition is locked in a political gymnastics instead of together solving the land equation.
With the relative peace returning to the country side and the defeat of the self styled Lord’s Resistance Army, the issue of land is most likely to be the centre of conflicts in the local communities। Senseless and petty arguments of local boundaries are coming back and if not checked petty killings will continue to crop up and haunt the authorities.
The country apparently requires a proper land policy and law. Government’s attempts to table the land bill to parliament are attracting bigger resistance on the part of opposition. If the two do not work hand in hand to quickly pass the land bill, a bigger conflict within the communities is brewing. We are praying sanity and clear thought prevails over this life and death matter very soon.
