Selected Land Governance Institutions and Land Conflict Management in Lango Sub-Region:A case of Lira District

Abstract

Background: The study of the effectiveness of selected land governance institutions in the management of land conflicts in Lango sub-region. Despite attempts by Government of Uganda to reduce land conflicts through the formal court systems, land related conflicts remained high (Obaikol &Ogwapit, 2017), prompting the government to establish other land governance institutions. This study aims at examining the effectiveness of Land Tribunals, local courts, and ad hoc mediators in the management of land conflicts in Lira district. Methods: Correlation and descriptive designs were used and sample size of 200 was targeted, and sampled using purposive and simple random sampling techniques from whom, questionnaires was administered among members of Land Tribunals, local Council Courts, and opinion leaders. The response rate of 86 % was achieved from which data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: The study findings reveal that the correlation between Land Tribunals and Land conflicts (r=.120;p-value>.05) is positive and weak; between Local Council Courts and land conflict (r=.224; p-value<.05)is positive and weak ;and between Ad hoc Mediators and land (r=518; p value>)is positive and strong .The results of multiple regression reveal that Land Tribunals(Beta =.143; p-value>.05) is low in land conflict management; Local Council Courts (Beta =.085;p value..05) is low in land conflict management . Conclusions: The study concludes that Land Tribunals is least effective in managing land conflicts; that local Council Courts are least effective in managing land conflicts; and that Ad hoc Mediator is more effective in managing land conflicts in the study area. Recommendations: The study recommends that government should re-enforce the role of Land Tribunals to make them more effective in land conflicts management; that local council court members should be periodically trained in conflict management; that government should advocate, train and consider better facilitation for ad hoc mediators to make them more effective. A study on factors leading to rampant land conflicts is proposed. Keywords: Land Governance Institutions, and Land Conflict Management