Comparative analysis of the traditional alternative dispute resolution and formal/legal dispute resolution process in land claims and allocations for the indigenous displaced returnees in Amuru District, Northern Uganda

When symbolically or emotionally important land or property is at issue, chances of conflict will increase significantly. Rebuilding institutional structures such as justice system is a difficult task, particularly in societies torn apart by internal war such as Northern Uganda which has been at war for over twenty two years. This research study explores the reality of indigenous displaced returnees from the Amuru District in post armed conflict in Uganda.;Also through conducting public education about the significance of embracing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in addressing incompatible land issues among population in Amuru district Northern Uganda. The most prominent element in this study is that both the Afro centric and Eurocentric justice systems are still being applied in resolving the incompatible land issues among the internally displaced returnees. The Afro centric justice system was more informal; it always endeavored to strike a middle ground while addressing land concerns and issues among the internally displaced people, while the legal justice system has always attempted to address land issues by ensuring that rightful owners prevails in the court system. Hence, this project provided the researcher with an opportunity to compare the experiences of the internally displaced people in seeking land justice in their communities. It also provided us with rich experiences that enabled us to design a sustainable land dispute alternative resolution mechanism in the post-war Northern Uganda.;This research project compares the informal dispute resolution and the legal or formal dispute resolution system in land claim conflict from the experience of the displaced returnees. A number of recommendations for managing this type of conflict are made including the need to establish hybrid alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in addressing natural resource based issues such as land.