Civil wars, land conflicts and the consequences of violence: a case study of Teso Uganda (Ca.1996-2014)

This study examines the complex relationship between civil wars and land disputes in the Teso sub-region of Eastern Uganda between 1996 and 2014. Drawing on historical analysis, qualitative fieldwork, and interviews with local stakeholders, the research explores how decades of armed conflict-including insurgencies led by the Uganda People's Army (UPA) and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA)-have disrupted land tenure systems, displaced populations, and eroded traditional land governance structures. The findings reveal that the conflict not only intensified land scarcity but also destroyed the oral and customary frameworks previously used to mediate ownership and access, especially in a context dominated by customary land tenure. The study further highlights how post-war legal reforms, including the 1998 Land Act, have inadequately addressed the realities of rural communities, often reinforcing inequalities due to the high cost of land registration and the exclusion of vulnerable groups such as widows and returnees. It is argued that sustainable land justice in Teso requires a hybrid approach that harmonizes formal legal structures with revitalized customary practices, while promoting gender equity, institutional trust, and grassroots reconciliation. The study contributes to a broader understanding of post-conflict land governance and provides policy-relevant recommendations aimed at fostering peace, social cohesion, and equitable land access in fragile regions.