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ItemLand tenure dynamics and women land access: a comparative study of the Luguru Matrilineal and Chagga Patrilineal Communities in Tanzania, 1800– 1990(Makerere University, 2023)Dynamics in land tenure systems have created contestations over land between men and women in Tanzania. The process has evolved women’s land tenure security particularly from colonial to post-colonial settings in many communities in the country. It is argued generally that women have a sound land tenure security in Female Based Kinships (FBKs) compared to patrilineal-based communities (MBKs). These two kinship social organisations have distinct models which govern their land tenure processes. The former being maternally-based, is considered to make it easier for women’s land access contrary to the latter. Through archival sources, semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis, the study has compared the Luguru matrilineal and the Chagga patrilineal communities to interrogate how their land tenure dynamics have shaped women land security. By aligning the discussions to the practices of land tenure systems, colonial and post-colonial policies in Tanzania, the study has established that, women land tenure security apart from patriarchal based perspective has evolved due to traditional and historical changes anchored by the colonial and post-colonial land policies and laws in the country. The introduction of colonial land ordinances--for instance in 1895 and 1903 by the German and the 1920s and 1930s by the British colonial states have been discovered to have their shares towards a gendered land tenure practices. The crafted colonial land ordinances, among other issues, subjected all land to the governors who had absolute powers over it. This marked the notion of ‘power centralisation over land which gradually deviated the traditional land tenure set up. The enacted policies facilitated colonial economic production and administration which altogether had their shares towards the genesis of women land tenure insecurity across matrilineal communities in Tanzania. Indeed, post-colonial land policies transformed the traditional land tenure practices in Tanzania. This was accelerated by the introduction of various post-colonial practices such as the 1960s-1970s Ujamaa policy, the 1990s National land policies and 1990s land formalisation processes. That being the case, this study has lensed women land tenure insecurity in Tanzania from other perimeters by comparing the dynamics of Luguru and Chagga land tenure traditions and their implications on women’s land access, control and power. As such, it is of good intention for land scholars, the government, policy makers and other actors to address women land tenure insecurity in the country from a wider traditional and historical evolutions apart from merely male-oriented perceptions bound the contemporary debates.
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ItemExamining community-based initiatives in conflict resolution: a case study of Canaansite Estate, Wakiso District(Makerere University, 2025)The study aimed to examine the effectiveness of community-based initiatives in conflict resolution within Canaanites Estate, Manyangwa in Wakiso District. Three specific objectives guided it: to identify the major causes of conflicts among residents, to assess the community-based initiatives employed in resolving disputes and their effect on peaceful co-existence, and to propose a comprehensive framework for effective community-based conflict resolution. A descriptive, cross-sectional, mixed-methods design was employed, using both questionnaires and an interview guide. Out of the targeted 234 respondents, 197 participated, giving a satisfactory response rate of 84.2%. The findings revealed that the leading causes of conflict included disputes over land ownership (mean = 4.21), lack of transparency in land allocation (mean = 4.13), youth unemployment fueling criminal behavior (mean = 4.08), frequent landlord–tenant misunderstandings (mean = 4.04), and unclear leadership structures (mean = 4.01). Other notable drivers were inadequate infrastructure and climate-related pressures. Community-based initiatives were reported to be effective, with over 80% of respondents agreeing that they enhanced peaceful dispute resolution, reduced reliance on external courts, strengthened trust in leadership, and improved security outcomes in the estate. Regression analysis confirmed the statistical significance of these initiatives, with the model explaining 32.7% of the variance in conflict-resolution outcomes (R² = 0.327; F (7,189) = 5.987; p < 0.001). Local leaders’ mediation (β = 0.198, p = 0.006), religious leaders’ involvement (β = 0.176, p = 0.011), cultural rituals (β = 0.165, p = 0.014), and elders’ wisdom (β = 0.148, p = 0.026) emerged as the strongest predictors of success. While community meetings, police–local council collaboration, and women’s associations contributed positively, their effects were not statistically significant. These results underscore that trusted leadership and culturally grounded practices are the most influential mechanisms in promoting lasting peace in the estate. Based on the findings of the study, a four-component framework was proposed, consisting of prevention (community sensitization, land documentation, and early warning systems), intervention (timely mediation by local leaders, elders, and faith-based actors), resolution (transparent dialogue platforms and fair agreements), and sustainability (capacity-building, recordkeeping, and inclusive participation of women and youth). The study therefore recommends formalizing mediation processes, empowering community leaders with negotiation skills, institutionalizing resident bylaws, and promoting stronger collaboration among residents, local councils, and security agencies.
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ItemExamining the efficacy of police in the protection of refugees in Uganda: a case of Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement(Makerere University, 2025)Despite Uganda’s progressive legal framework for refugee protection, significant implementation gaps persist, particularly in the practical delivery of protection services within refugee settlements. This study examined the efficacy of the Uganda Police Force (UPF) in protecting refugees in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, a site that has witnessed persistent threats such as sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), discrimination, exploitation, and limited access to justice. Anchored on the principles of Community Policing Theory and Human Security Theory, the study employed a crosssectional research design using a mixed-methods approach to assess police practices, identify challenges, and explore refugee perceptions of police protection. Primary data were collected from 368 refugee respondents using structured questionnaires, while qualitative insights were drawn from key informant interviews (KIIs) with police officers, humanitarian actors, and local leaders, as well as from focus group discussions (FGDs) with refugee subgroups. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS to generate descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed through thematic content analysis to extract deeper insights. The findings indicated moderate agreement among refugees that the police play an important role in their protection; however, there was a significant variability in perceptions, with notable concerns about police misconduct, inadequate response times, limited accessibility, and uneven protection for vulnerable groups such as women and children. The study also found that the key challenges identified include resource constraints, lack of training in refugee-specific issues, cultural and language barriers, and weak collaboration between police and humanitarian actors. Despite these shortcomings, the study also revealed areas of promise, including refugees’ partial trust in police and willingness to engage more with security actors if conditions improve. The study concluded that effective refugee protection requires strengthening police visibility, enhancing training in human rights and refugee law, and fostering community engagement. The study recommended targeted interventions such as increased patrols, establishment of local police outposts, capacity-building programs, and partnerships with refugee leaders and NGOs. Finally, it suggests further research into gender-sensitive policing, inter-agency coordination, and refugee perceptions of safety to inform more responsive and sustainable security policies. These findings provided valuable evidence to guide future policy and operational strategies in refugee protection.
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ItemChallenges of cybersecurity resilience in Uganda: A Case of Uganda Police Force(Makerere University, 2025)The study examines the ongoing difficulties that compromise cybersecurity resilience in the Uganda Police Force (UPF), emphasising the relationship between technological infrastructure development and human resource competencies. Routine Activity Theory posits that a crime transpires when motivated criminals, suitable targets, and the absence of capable guardians converge. The study rigorously analysed the impact of systemic vulnerabilities on the Uganda Police Force’s capacity to protect its digital ecosystem as a custodian. The core issue lies in the disparity between swift technological adoption and insufficient institutional readiness, which renders essential security infrastructure vulnerable to cyber threats that the UPF is presently ill-prepared to address thoroughly. A qualitative desk review approach was employed to synthesise data from diverse secondary sources, including peer-reviewed journals, government papers, policy documents, and news items. Research indicates that although the technical infrastructure in the UPF, including digital databases, communication systems, and surveillance technologies, has enhanced operating efficiency, it is still inconsistent, fragmented, and inadequately guarded, frequently lacking integrated cybersecurity measures. Simultaneously, despite initiatives to create cybercrime units and provide fundamental training, the UPF still faces a deficiency of specialised staff, restricted advanced skills, and a lack of organised professional growth avenues in cybersecurity. The deficiency of human resources significantly undermines the organization's capacity to identify, react to, and recuperate from cyber threats in real time. The study indicates that although the UPF has aligned certain practices with international cybersecurity standards however Uganda has not ratified to the most vital conventions of cyber security. These concerns cumulatively undermine the resilience and Uganda’s conformity to international norms in the areas of cyber security. The main recommendations are increased funding to procure latest technology to combat the increasing cyber crimes and Uganda to ratify to the most important conventions to get international collaborations and trainings.
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ItemMulti-dimensional peace keeping missions and state building in conflict states: the case of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)/African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS)(Makerere University, 2025)This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of AMISOM/ATMIS multi-dimensional components in advancing state-building efforts in Somalia. The study noted that despite initial AMISOM/ATMIS operational successes that resulted into the Al-Shabaab terror group losing its strongholds in Mogadishu and parts of South and Central Somalia and whereas there have been systematic efforts by AMISOM/ATMIS/AUSSOM to create an enabling environment for rejuvenation of FGS institutions, Somalia‟s security and political landscape remains fragile. In addition, the economic sector has not delivered expected public goods for the betterment of the population. Against this background, the study specifically assessed the impact of (1) ATMIS led security sector reforms in enhancing the efficacy of the Somali state to ensure long term stability (2) the role of reconstruction and development assistance initiatives in peace building and reduction of poverty as a driver of conflict and (3) the impact of Somalia‟s federal political system in enhancing state building outcomes. Two theoretical frameworks were adopted to ground the study into existing literature. These included the Liberal Peace Building Theory (LPBT) and Developmental Peace Mission Theory (DPMT). In addition, a mixed research methodology combining both quantitative and qualitative techniques was adopted in order to develop an in-depth understanding of the study topic. Since study was conducted in Uganda and Somalia, the study population involved diverse groups including; Somali refugees living in Uganda, police and Army officers who have served under AMISOM/ATMIS, ATMIS FHQ and Mission Staff and Al-Shabaab defectors. The sample size was determined using Yamane‟s formula and simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Data was collected through questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions and document reviews ensuring validity and reliability. In order to maintain the integrity of the study, ethical considerations were adhered to. Regarding AMISOM/ATMIS led Security Sector Reforms, Pearson correlation (r = 0.304, p = 0.000) indicated a moderate positive relationship between SSR‟s and state-building process. Similarly, reconstruction and development Initiatives were found to have positive effects on reducing poverty, improving public services and fostering state legitimacy. As such, the Pearson correlation (r = 0.261, p < 0.01) showed a moderate positive relationship between reconstruction and development initiatives to state-building efforts. On the role of the federal political system in consolidating the Somali state, the Pearson correlation (r = 0.276, p = 0.000) indicated a moderate positive relationship between the federal political system and state-building agenda. Federal political structures explained 7.1% of the variance to state-building outcomes (R² = 0.076, Adjusted R² = 0.071). However, from a qualitative perspective there was a moderately split opinion regarding the efficacy of the federal system in fostering state consolidation. In summary, the study found that ATMIS-led security sector reforms, reconstruction and development initiatives and federal structures have a positive relationship to the state-building process in Somalia. However, the explanatory power of these variables was found to be moderate, suggesting that the three factors are insufficient to anchor the state building process in Somalia hence the need to explore other elements influencing state building outcomes.