Land Dispute Settlement in Uganda: Exploring the Efficacy of the Mediation Option

Abstract

It is without doubt that land disputes are the order of the day in Uganda. From litigants to mediators, cases involving hostilities ranging from strangers and neighbours to family relations and friends keep surfacing up before all sorts of tribunals either mandated by the government or not, nevertheless, recognised by the warring parties.

This paper seeks to explore the efficacy of alternative dispute resolutions, particularly mediation, over land disputes in Uganda. It does not venture to a great length into the merits and demerits of mediation per se but generally looks into the most effective way of handling mediation so as to achieve its purpose in resolving land disputes. It taps into the current law and practises on mediation and balances its effectiveness by relating it with an appreciation of similar mediation activities in other jurisdictions.

The paper thus attempts to move for a greater focus on mediation as an alternative strategy in resolving land disputes as opposed to protracted litigation before land tribunals and as such proposes new perspectives geared towards the round table option of mediation.