Lira, Uganda – Tensions are escalating in Aler, Lira District, as residents petition the Ministry of Lands to revoke a disputed land title granted to the Lira District Local Government.
The 31-acre parcel of land, home to a rock currently quarried by GulSan Company Ltd., has become the center of a heated conflict over land ownership, compensation and procedural irregularities.
Residents argue the land, which has been customary property for generations, was wrongfully titled to the district government despite a community-imposed caveat.
They accuse authorities of sidelining their rights and ignoring legal processes.
Local leaders have accused Lira District Local Government of obtaining the title under questionable circumstances.
“The district maneuvered and got the title for this land, yet this is customary land,” said Godfrey Awal, LC II Chairman of Aler Parish.
Erute North MP Christine Akello added her voice to the outcry, alleging forgery in the land acquisition process.
“After the caveat was sent to the district land board, they went ahead and forged documents to get the title illegally,” she claimed.
The dispute also stems from unmet promises made when the land was leased to GulSan Company Ltd. in 2021 for quarrying purposes.
Affected households say they were misled into accepting the deal under the promise of UGX 30 million in compensation per household, a promise that remains unfulfilled.
“They lied to us. We accepted because we wanted development, but nothing has been delivered,” said Albino Okello, a councilor for Ogur Sub-County.
MP Akello criticized the payment process, revealing that compensation was issued informally, bypassing proper banking procedures.
“Members were compensated under a tree, which goes against the guidelines requiring payments to go through bank accounts,” she said.
Residents also complained about outdated compensation rates and the district’s alleged failure to remit the UGX 100 million annual payment from GulSan.
Over the weekend, the community convened a meeting to issue a stern warning and bowed that, if their grievances are not addressed within two weeks, they will take civic action.
They threatened to stop quarry operations and demand the immediate revocation of the land title.
“The challenge is that GulSan always uses old valuation rates, leaving us undercompensated,” Awal said, adding that locals are determined to reclaim their land.
The community is drawing strength from a 2019 ruling in Nakapiripirit, where a court sided with residents in a similar land dispute involving government acquisition.
They believe the case bolsters their position and expect the Ministry of Lands to intervene swiftly.
For the people of Aler, this dispute transcends the 31 acres in question it is a fight to protect their heritage and demand accountability from local authorities.
“We will not stop until our land is returned, and those responsible for this injustice are held accountable,” vowed a community leader.
The Ministry of Lands has yet to respond, but with tensions rising and the clock ticking, all eyes are on Aler as it becomes the latest flashpoint in Uganda’s land ownership debates.
Original Story: Lira Sqoop
