By Mike Rwothomio

The Alur Kingdom has applauded Life Concern, a non-governmental organisation operating in Zombo District, West Nile sub-region, for its significant contribution to securing land rights through the processing and issuance of Certificates of Customary Ownership (CCOs) to vulnerable communities.

The Jadipu Prince Angala Opar (centre) handing over Certificates of Customary Land Ownership (CCLO) to the 35 beneficiaries that included widows and orphans. Assisting him is Life Concern ExecutiveDirector, Emmy Kizito Kakura (extreme right) as other stakeholders look on.

The initiative, which aligns with provisions of the Land Act governing customary tenure, addresses widespread inter-community and intra-family disputes over land held under customary rules derived from clan norms, ancestral practices, and traditional authority.

Life Concern recently awarded CCOs to 100 beneficiaries in Atyak and Nyapea sub-counties. The project targets a total of 200 beneficiaries, with priority given to widows and orphans who are particularly vulnerable to land-related conflicts.

Representing His Majesty Ubimu Phillip Rauni Ularker III, the Alur Kingdom Prime Minister, Prince Lawrence Opar Angala, endorsed the programme, pledged the Kingdom’s full support, and called for its scaling up across the Kingdom.

“As Alur Kingdom, we welcome this initiative and we lobby for more of it here,” Prince Opar stated.

He emphasized that the project complements the Kingdom’s ongoing implementation of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms in tackling rampant land conflicts.

Under the 1995 Constitution of Uganda (Article 126(2)(d) and (e)), courts are mandated to promote reconciliation and ADR methods such as mediation and arbitration to enhance access to justice and reduce adversarial litigation.

Land conflicts remain prevalent in Zombo District sub-counties including Nyapea, Jangokoro, Paidha, and Atyak, often arising from disagreements among clan members, families, and relatives over rights under the customary land tenure system.

These disputes have historically led to property destruction, displacement, and loss of lives.

The life concern's four-year project, funded by the Netherlands Embassy in Uganda, is being implemented sequentially: Nyapea in the first year, Atyak in the second, with Paidha and Jangokoro scheduled for the third and fourth years respectively.

Life Concern Executive Director Kakura Emmy Kizito explained the rationale: “We are issuing certificates to a total of 200 people… we have so far issued 100 certificates and we are remaining with 100. People are fighting over land because they don’t have papers to show that they own their lands.”

Atyak Sub-county Area Land Committee Chairperson Nestore Penjunga Ini-iye assured that beneficiaries underwent a rigorous verification process, minimising future boundary or ownership disputes.

Stakeholder Endorsement and Impact

LCIII Chairperson for Atyak Sub-county, Godfrey Okura, commended both Life Concern and Prince Opar for helping reduce land wrangles that had peaked in 2021. “We can now breathe a sigh of relief,” he said.

Zombo District Land Board Chairperson Mr. Opio Jalawure appealed for wider uptake of CCOs and intensified sensitisation on the benefits of formalising customary land rights to curb conflicts.

Beneficiaries expressed gratitude.

Hillary Wabitho from Atyak said the certificates would enable peaceful agricultural investment, while widow Aduba noted that her land rights as a vulnerable person would now be respected.

Prince Opar, a trained ADR expert, announced plans to train selected Kingdom officials in mediation and other conflict resolution techniques, describing Life Concern’s intervention as “doing due diligence in making our work easier.”

 He added that secure land rights would support government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) by fostering peace and reducing land-based conflicts.

The initiative comes against a backdrop of rising land-related crimes. The 2025 Uganda Police Annual Crime Report released March 30, 2026 indicated a 67% increase in land conflicts and fraud compared to 2024, with Northern Uganda accounting for 33% of cases.

 Boundary disputes (46%), family wrangles (30%), and land grabbing (22%) were the most common.

His Majesty the Alur King has consistently urged subjects to resolve land matters peacefully, warning against conflicts that “lead to pouring of blood” and emphasising productive land use for community upliftment.

Customary land tenure, covering approximately 68.6% of Uganda’s landmass and recognised under the Land Act with rights equivalent to freehold, remains the dominant system in northern Uganda.

The issuance of CCOs provides legal documentation while preserving traditional management by clans and families.

Prince Opar expressed confidence that broader adoption of ADR including mediation-first approaches as recently directed by Chief Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija would deliver cost savings, faster resolutions, relationship preservation, and lasting peaceful coexistence.

Alur Kingdom Prime Minister (Jadipu) Prince Lawrence Opar Angala (seated centre in a black coat) presided over the handover ceremony of Certificates of Customary Land Ownership to beneficiaries in Atyak Sub-County today, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

Mike Rwothomio is the News Editor at Zoomer Africa, your trusted grassroots information hub for African stories, voices, and updates.