On June 27, 2025, Uganda’s Parliamentary Conference hall will transform into the nation’s most consequential forum for land justice.
Under the theme “Securing Women’s Agricultural Land Ownership: A Political and Development Imperative,” the second National Symposium on Land Governance will bring together political leaders, lawmakers, civil society, development partners, traditional leaders and grassroots voices to address one of the most pressing and persistent inequalities in Ugandan society: women’s right to own the land they till.
The event comes at a pivotal time, not only as Uganda prepares for the 2026 general elections, but as the country wrestles with the deep-rooted, structural barriers that keep women—who contribute nearly 70 per cent of agricultural labor—from owning the land they farm.
Though agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy, the land system that underpins it has historically excluded the very hands that sustain it. Land in Uganda is not just a resource—it is identity, security and livelihood. Yet, according to government data and civil society research, fewer than 20 per cent of women in Uganda legally own land.
This disparity is more than a gender issue; it’s a development crisis. Without ownership, women cannot make independent decisions about crop choice, sales or land use. This lack of autonomy undermines food security, limits rural transformation, and perpetuates generational poverty.
Amid this backdrop, the symposium—organized by the Uganda Parliamentarians on Land Management Forum (UPLMF) in collaboration with the ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, and supported by development partners such as Oxfam, Cordaid and Habitat for Humanity, with event execution by HAP WASH Promotion Initiative—is intended to do more than ignite dialogue.
It aims to build political consensus, drive policy reform, and secure concrete commitments from political leaders through a “Minimum Demand Charter” that will be signed ahead of the 2026 elections.
Charles Opolot, forum coordinator and events manager, emphasized the urgency of this year’s gathering: “This year’s symposium is not just another meeting—it’s a bold call to action. If we are serious about inclusive development, then securing women’s land rights must move from rhetoric to reality. Parliamentarians and policymakers must listen to the voices from the fields and take concrete steps to end land injustice once and for all.”
He also expressed deep gratitude to the organizations and individuals who helped make the event possible: “I extend my heartfelt thanks to all our partners for their unwavering support in making the 2nd National Symposium on Land Governance a reality. Your commitment to advancing land rights and gender justice is truly commendable. I offer special appreciation to IGAD, Oxfam, Habitat for Humanity, and PELUM for their outstanding support throughout the planning and execution of this event.
“A sincere thank you also goes to Ronald Ngobi, our lead consultant, whose expertise and dedication greatly enriched the symposium’s content and program design. Together, we are moving closer to a future where every woman’s right to land is recognized, protected and fulfilled.” Dennis Obbo, spokesperson for the ministry of Lands, speaking on behalf of permanent secretary Dorcas Okalanyi, emphasized the symposium’s role in bridging the gap between legislative intent and executive action.
“This symposium is about bringing together two critical arms of government, the legislature and the executive, to engage on land matters. We compare notes, share insights, and reflect on what parliament has raised regarding land, property, housing, urban development and physical planning,” he said.
But the event is more than a bureaucratic exchange. Obbo explained that it serves as a platform for identifying gaps in Uganda’s land laws and converting the ideals of the National Land Policy into action.
“We talk about how we’re implementing existing laws, the challenges we face, and any legal gaps that might need to be addressed through new legislation,” he added.
Among the key issues on the agenda are land tenure security, customary land rights, inheritance practices, and the intersection between land use and climate resilience. The symposium will delve into how Uganda can better utilize its land for sustainable agriculture and development while protecting the rights of vulnerable populations, particularly women, youth, ethnic minorities and pastoral communities.
Uganda’s land tenure system is notoriously complex, governed by a patchwork of legal frameworks that include freehold, leasehold, mailo, and customary tenure. The latter, which covers most of the rural land, is rarely registered and is often administered by clan structures. While this system can be inclusive in theory, it often fails to offer women formal ownership due to entrenched patriarchal norms.
“Customary land is actually quite flexible and inclusive, especially through clan associations where we’re seeing women represented in ownership structures at rates between 50 per cent and 59 per cent,” Obbo said. “But when it comes to titled land, women’s ownership remains under 20 per cent.”
The government, he added, is now deliberately targeting the registration of customary land to help raise women’s legal ownership rates. The numbers tell a sobering story. In 1995, when the landmark Beijing Conference on Women was held, only about five per cent of Ugandan women owned land. By 2002, this had crept up to seven per cent.
Today, thanks to concerted interventions, the figure has reached 19 per cent, and government projections suggest it could rise to 40 per cent or even 50 per cent within the next two years if current efforts continue. But access is not enough, Obbo warned.
“Ownership is what empowers someone to make meaningful decisions. If women merely have access without ownership, they’re unlikely to fully invest their time, energy, or resources,” he said.
“Where women have secure land rights, productivity increases. We’ve seen output rise from 30 per cent to as much as 70–80 per cent. When women own land, they have greater agency—they decide how to use it, what to do with the produce, and how to plan for their families.”
This year’s symposium builds on the foundation laid in May 2024, when Uganda held its first National Symposium on Land under the theme “Securing land rights to support climate change adaptation and sustainable food systems.”
That event ended with nine concrete resolutions, including a call for a national land inventory, legal reforms to formalize customary tenure, and the expansion of land services and information systems.
June’s gathering seeks to push those conversations further by generating a unified, enforceable set of political commitments that will form the basis of a “Minimum Demand Charter” ahead of the 2026 elections.
Panel discussions will feature legislators, ministry officials, traditional leaders, civil society, and youth leaders—all tasked with identifying not just the problems, but the solutions.
Topics will include gender-responsive budgeting for land services, land valuation and compensation reform, securing inheritance rights, and land governance in the face of climate change. Importantly, the event will also create space for women, youth, and community representatives to challenge political aspirants directly through a moderated Q&A session focused on 2026 pledges.
Obbo said the symposium also serves as a check on Uganda’s international obligations. “Uganda has signed protocols under IGAD, the African Union, and the East African Community. We’ll be reporting on how we’re addressing land-related commitments and border disputes under these frameworks,” he noted.
As the political drums of 2026 grow louder, the June 27 symposium promises to be more than a policy event—it is a national reckoning. At stake is whether Uganda can move from promise to practice, from access to ownership, and from exclusion to inclusion.
With the voices of rural women, youth leaders, and reform-minded lawmakers in the room, the symposium offers a rare opportunity to reshape Uganda’s future—starting with the soil beneath our feet.
