Tension remains high in parts of Ssembabule District after residents displaced during a prolonged land dispute returned to reoccupy the contested land nearly three years after their eviction.
The families, who say they have endured years of hardship in temporary settlements and dependence on relatives, claim they were forced back by difficult living conditions and the lack of a permanent resettlement plan. Upon returning, several households reportedly began erecting makeshift shelters and reopening gardens in an effort to rebuild their livelihoods.
Local leaders have confirmed the reoccupation but warned that the dispute remains unresolved, raising fears of renewed clashes between rival claimants.
Individuals said to be holding legal claims to the land have opposed the move, insisting that the matter is still under consideration by relevant authorities and cautioning against what they describe as illegal occupation.
In response to the growing tension, security personnel have been deployed in parts of the area to monitor developments and prevent possible violence. Authorities say their focus is to maintain law and order while encouraging calm as mediation and legal processes continue.
Community elders and civil society groups have urged government to fast-track mediation efforts, warning that unresolved land conflicts often result in displacement, humanitarian suffering and insecurity.
District officials are expected to convene stakeholder meetings aimed at finding a lasting solution and preventing further escalation.
Meanwhile, residents who have returned insist they are determined to stay, arguing that they have no alternative homes or sustainable means of survival elsewhere.
