Family and Ethnic Land Conflicts and Food Security in Lyantonde Rural Sub County-Lyantonde District –Uganda

Abstract

The study examined family and ethnic land conflicts and food security in Lyantonde rural subcounty Lyantonde district. Descriptive cross-sectional survey research design with mixed approaches of datacollection and analysis was used. The study population comprised of community members, the RDC, Policeofficers, political and civil leaders of villages in Lyantonde Sub County, members of district and sub county landboard and a sample size of 391 respondents participated. Data was collected using semi structuredquestionnaire and interview guide. Quantitative data collected data was analyzed by use of Statistical Packagefor Social Sciences (SPSS) while qualitative data was analyzed by use of both thematic and content analysis. The study established that people in Lyantonde occupied Mailo land, customary land, Freehold and a few onLeasehold land. Unresolved land ownership, incompatibility of cattle keeping with crop farming, unclearboundaries, population growth were leading causes of family and ethnic land conflicts which have culminatedinto death of animals, destruction of crops, killing of villagers, loss of originally owned land, reduced foodproduction, reduction in income which have all affected food stability among conflicting families andcommunity at large in the study area.The study established that there exist cases of land grabbing in Lyantonderural sub county manifested through forceful evictions and dubious land deals though on a moderate rate. Itwas revealed that land grabbing is majorly conducted by rich local private individuals and statehouseoperatives due to the presence of absentee land lords, poor land tenure system, corruption, poverty, connectionto statehouse and poor implementation of land laws leading into mass displacement of people, landlessnesshence food insecurity. The study established that majority of the people living Lyantonde Rural Sub County donot know land laws and had less trust in courts of law since they take a very long time with many procedures togive judgment overland conflicts and are very corrupt. The study recommends that; alternative source oflivelihoods should be provided to the people, traditional institutions should be strengthened, land boundariesbetween clans or communities should clearly be defined, demarcated and documented and, also, there should bestrong stakeholder collaboration in land administration(10 Italic)