Historicising Land Conflicts And The Balaalo Factor In Northern Uganda, 1986-2023

Abstract

This study examines the historical relationship between land conflicts and Balaalo factor in Northern Uganda from 1986 to 2023. The qualitative research and historical design was adopted in the study. Data was collected using key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews with community members, district administrators, non-Balaalo migrants, and Balaalo pastoralists. A sample size of 155 participants was interviewed. These included; the Balaalo (15), non-Balaalo migrants (15), cultural leaders (05), local area politicians (10) as key informants, and the local community members (110) from the three respective districts. The findings reveal a complex interplay of socio-political, economic, and cultural factors shaping land disputes and Balaalo’s involvement in the region. The historical land dispossession of Balaalo pastoralists, within and outside Uganda, and the political and economic shifts, triggered their migration and settlement in Northern Uganda. Elite Balaalo, leveraging ethnic, political, and military connections, are key actors in land acquisition and resource exploitation in the region, exacerbating tensions with local communities. This study highlights the need for comprehensive reforms in land governance, community dialogue, livelihood diversification, law enforcement, cultural sensitivity, and sustainable development planning to address underlying causes of land conflicts and promote peaceful coexistence in the region