Tensions At Nakivale Settlement
In a significant move to address rising tensions, ACP Otong Ignatius, the Uganda Police Force's Coordinator of Refugee Affairs, led a high-stakes community baraza (public meeting) at the Nakivale Refugee Settlement on Tuesday, aiming to forge a new path for refugee-host community relations
05/October/2025
by Y.Emma#lcctv reporter
NAKIVALE SETTLEMENT, UGANDA – In a significant move to address rising tensions, ACP Otong Ignatius, the Uganda Police Force’s Coordinator of Refugee Affairs, led a high-stakes community baraza (public meeting) at the Nakivale Refugee Settlement on Tuesday, aiming to forge a new path for refugee-host community relations in 2025.
The gathering, which drew hundreds of refugees, local leaders, and Ugandan nationals from surrounding villages, focused on the critical and escalating issue of resource competition, with a particular emphasis on land, water, and firewood.
The baraza, held under the sprawling shade of a mango tree at the settlement’s administrative grounds, was characterized by candid and, at times, emotional testimony.
“We have lived with our brothers and sisters from neighboring countries for years in peace,” stated John Byaruhanga, a local council chairperson. “But the trees are gone, the water in the wells is sinking, and our land is becoming strained. Our people are suffering, and this cannot continue.”
Refugee representatives echoed the concerns but highlighted their own plight. Marie Amani, a community leader from the Democratic Republic of Congo, responded, “We did not choose to be here. We are grateful for the safety Uganda has provided, but we also need to live. Our children need to eat. We are not enemies; we are all victims of circumstance.”
In his address, ACP Otong announced several key initiatives for 2025:The immediate formation of committees comprising equal numbers of refugee and host community members to manage and resolve disputes over shared resources like firewood collection zones and water points.
A commitment to deploy special police liaison units within the settlement to handle crime impartially. He also launched a new, toll-free SMS-based reporting system to allow anonymous reporting of crimes and conflicts, ensuring faster response times.
A new initiative, funded by international partners, to create joint agricultural and vocational training cooperatives. These programs are designed to benefit both communities equally, fostering economic interdependence.
Acknowledging the environmental degradation, ACP Otong announced a major tree-planting campaign set to begin next month, with a goal of planting 50,000 seedlings in and around Nakivale within the year.
The announcement was met with a mix of cautious optimism and lingering skepticism from attendees.”If they do what they have said, it will be good. But we have heard promises before,” said one elderly refugee from Burundi. “We will believe it when we see the trees in the ground and the new water pump working.”
ACP Otong concluded by emphasizing the shared humanity of all involved. “Security is not just the absence of conflict; it is the presence of justice, opportunity, and dignity for all. My office is committed to ensuring that Nakivale remains a model of coexistence, not a cauldron of conflict. The success of this 2025 plan depends on all of us.”
The meeting is seen as a critical test for Uganda’s progressive refugee policies, which have been praised globally but are increasingly strained by the protracted nature of displacement and limited resources. All eyes will be on Nakivale in the coming months to see if this new dialogue translates into tangible peace and prosperity.
Nakivale is one of the oldest and largest refugee settlements in Africa, Nakivale is home to over 180,000 refugees from countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Somalia, and Rwanda.
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