(In Uganda) Prof. Ogenga Latigo Sparks Debate After Declaring Non-Acholi Should Not Own Land in Acholi

 

Professor Ogenga Latigo has sparked a heated national conversation in Uganda with his declaration that non-Acholi individuals should be barred from owning land in the Acholi region. He emphasized that land is central to Acholi identity, warning that its loss could erode the community’s nationhood and cultural heritage.

The remarks come amid rising tensions over land grabbing and the government’s efforts to formalize land ownership through documentation. Many Acholi leaders argue that such policies threaten customary land systems and risk exploitation by outsiders. Latigo underscored the ancestral, spiritual, and communal significance of Acholi land, asserting that its sale or political manipulation poses a direct threat to the region’s cultural survival. The controversy has fueled debates over cultural preservation, land rights, and the inclusion of non-indigenous people in traditional regions.

See also: (In Uganda) Obongi Authorities Issue One-Week Eviction Notice to Balaalo Herders Over Illegal Grazing and land encroachment