The Justice and Peace Commission (JPC), Hoima Catholic Diocese, Uganda with the support of Viatores Christi and Misean Cara, offer mediation services to people and communities in disputes with the aim of leading them to reconciliation supplementing the existing legal procedures and systems.

Land conflict resolved peacefully

JPC recently mediated a land conflict between siblings which included a situation where by the female children were being denied the right to inherit their late fathers’ land. This was being done basing on cultural laws which are inconsistent with the land law of Uganda and therefore void.

The three complainants/sisters who, after the passing of their father, had been denied ownership of their customary land by their two brothers. This was based on grounds that they are women and therefore have no right to inherit and own land. The said land is located in Hoima District-Uganda. Their father had passed on without a last will and testament. Therefore the property in question had not been divided among the children.

Successful Mediation

After failing to have the dispute resolved by the local authorities, the sisters filed the matter at the JPC office for mediation in May 2021. JPC was quick to respond and they led a mediation in the matter in the month of June. The dispute was successfully and amicably resolved. Each of the complainants was given a share of the land by the respondents and boundary marks were planted on everyone’s land to avoid further disputes and misunderstandings in the future. The parties also reconciled with one another.