Women’s Land Rights as a Pathway to Food Security in Uganda

Context and backgroundIn common with other African countries, colonization had an important impact on land relations in Uganda. Land is an important asset for people’s livelihoods and for economic development in Uganda, where the majority of people live in rural areas. Uganda’s land reform was introduced with the 1998 Land Act, which aims at enhancing tenure security by recognising existing rights to land. Furthermore, the evidence of any links between the formalisation of land rights, investment and productivity under different tenure systems is inconclusive. Recent studies have affirmed the importance of women’s asset ownership, including land, housing, and other assets, for economic development and social security. Despite a gender-sensitive legal framework, women have been discriminated against in both the customary and statutory settings. Improving women’s access to land is important to achieving food security in Uganda.Goal and Objectives:The major objective is to improve agricultural production of small-scale farmers through increased access, control and ownership of land as a productive resource in farming communities. Other specific objectives include to promote a more systematic and practical approach that CSOs, small scale farmers and other relevant stakeholders can use in addressing land rights among communities; to engage with and gain obligation of stakeholders, policymakers and small scale farmers to develop win-win strategies which reinforce the positive changes among vulnerable groups and enable them to address land right issues in their communities.Methodology:Informed by already existing quantitative and qualitative research conducted in the study areas, two main methodological innovations were applied. The development of this paper involved conducting a literature review on the available information on food security and land rights in Uganda. Key informant interviews were conducted in Amuria and Adjumani districts.Results:Emergence of men champions on land in communitiesWomen have developed negotiating capacity, which they have applied in different areas of their lives.Increased collaboration among different stakeholdersIncreased awareness on land issues among small scale farmers, especially womenIncreased platforms for women’s engagement in policy issue