Jo Cox Memorial Grant story: Minority Rights Group prevent escalating violence in Rwenzori, Uganda

The Basongora community are livestock farmers living in Uganda. Thanks to a Conflict Early Warning Mechanism, set up as a result of a Jo Cox Memorial Grant, a peaceful and satisfactory solution was found for them after unexpected violent attacks were made on their property in 2021.

With the Jo Cox Memorial Grant funding, the Early Warning Mechanism was set up by Minority Rights Group International, which campaigns worldwide with over 600 partners in 60 countries to ensure that disadvantaged minority groups and indigenous peoples’ make their voices heard. These communities are often extremely poor and are particularly affected by scarcity issues such as limited grazing land or water access. In these contexts, social divisions are exacerbated because of climate pressures. 

In early 2021, armed individuals (associated with the Uganda Wildlife Authority – UWA) attacked and vandalised properties belonging to members of the pastoralist Basongora group, in the Kasese district of Rwenzori in Uganda. The attacks were ‘justified’ by the perpetrators because the Basongora people had trespassed on a section of parkland belonging to the Queen Elizabeth National Park and built houses and other structures there illegally. The attacks came as a shock to the community as discussions on how to address this particular situation had already begun between the local Community Conservation Manager, on behalf of the UWA, and representatives of the leaders of the Basongora community.

The violent incident attracted the immediate intervention of local Peace Ambassadors, who had been recruited and trained as part of the Jo Cox Memorial Grant project. They rapidly reported the attacks on the online Conflict Early Warning Mechanism which had been set up with the support of this project.

The report prompted a local partner, KRC (the Kabarole Research and Resource Centre), to quickly make a site visit to the area to ascertain the situation and assess how to de-escalate the conflict and avoid further violent incidents. On arrival, the KRC team met with community leaders to hear the community’s views and concerns.

A meeting with the Community Conservation Manager of Queen Elizabeth National Park was then held to discuss the possible repercussions which may result from the destruction of the properties, especially as Basongora community members had shared their plan to attack wild animals in the park in retaliation for the loss of their property.

KRC brought together all the stakeholders involved, including community members and leaders, security forces and the UWA. It was agreed at the meeting that community leaders would mobilise all those who had lost their properties during the attack to file a case with the police. The UWA pledged to engage the central government on better definition of the park’s boundaries. The District Security team pledged to work with the District Land Officer to ensure a clear demarcation of boundaries in the area.

The outcome of the talks was satisfactory for all parties involved and the meeting managed to diffuse tensions and avoid further violence. 

This example shows that if violence can be reported quickly, in a system like the Conflict Early Warning Mechanism,  there is adequate time for responsive action which can prevent an escalation of tensions and violent incidents. This is because the system is used and trusted by everyone and is accessible to anyone who needs to use it. Slow reaction (or sometimes even no reaction at all), from key stakeholders or a mediator, result in increasing tensions which may escalate into violence.