Climate change fuels farmer-herder conflict in northern Uganda
Climate change-induced drought is driving pastoralists into northern Uganda, leading to violent land and water disputes with local farmers. The government's management of the Maruzi Ranch has further complicated these resource conflicts.
Why it matters
This illustrates the direct link between environmental degradation and social instability in developing regions, highlighting the challenges of resource governance.
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Apac, Uganda | URN | On the afternoon of June 26, 2026, Frank Tumwesigye drove his herd toward a familiar watering point in Maruzi Ranch, expecting another routine day. Instead, he found angry residents blocking the access road, but this time, residents blocked the access road leading to the watering point, accusing his animals of destroying crops and demanding 500,000 Uganda shillings before allowing him to pass.
For Tumwesigye, a pastoralist from Kiryandongo District now grazing his cattle in Maruzi Ranch in Apac District, the confrontation was more than a dispute over a road. It reflected a growing struggle over shrinking natural resources, with prolonged drought and changing weather patterns pushing pastoralists and farming communities into increasing competition for land and water.
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