The voice of women on land has gone unheard for decades. We raise our voices in unison as citizens of this country saying we do not only want to see equality on paper through policies and laws….. we want to experience equality in our lives… for we are not sojourners..... we are citizens of this country and our rights to land must be guaranteed by the state. 

Having convened a National Women’s Conference in October 2010 officiated by H.E the President of Uganda and, attended by over 400 participants drawn from grassroots across the country, the Uganda Land Alliance wishes to reiterate the demands of women of Uganda as follows:

Conscious that human rights are inherent and that all human beings are equal and entitled to all rights and freedoms without distinction of any kind such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion or social origin, property, birth or status; and Concerned that despite enactments, proclamations and declarations on the universality of human rights, the rights of women to acquire, hold/control and deal in land among others in Uganda is limited by social, economic and political factors;

Bearing in mind that control and power over land is conferred by interest of the holder who may transfer, pass on by will or through commercial transactions which in most cases are dominated by the men; and Considering that the power of women to acquire land through purchase or transfer is limited by their capacity to purchase because of their weaker economic status.

Convinced that poor and rural women will achieve higher levels of economic independence and more secure livelihoods if their rights to land are assured; and Recognizing that denial of women’s rights to property and land in particular reinforces their economic dependence on men therefore impeding their ability to effectively achieve their own, and contribute to their families’ better livelihoods; Realizing the need for deliberate laws and policies as well as their effective implementation to promote women’s acquisition, control and utilization of land;

The women of Uganda demand that the discourse of women’s rights to land must be taken out of the private domain to the public domain. Thus, every woman’s rights to land should be in her own capacity as a citizen. Every woman’s access to, control and ownership of land should be independent of her marital status, relationship to a man/men/association of men.

Women’s Demands:

Government should uphold and implement fully the provisions of the CEDAW and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of women in Africa, that enshrine the right to equal access to, ownership and control of land, livelihood and acceptable living conditions. To this end, the right of every woman in Uganda to acquire, inherit, own, administer, use, transfer and/or dispose of land individually or in association with others be observed, respected and protected. 

Article 26 and 33 of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda which uphold and protect rights to own property and the rights of women to own land respectively be fully implemented through substantive legislative frameworks; To this end, every woman must have the choice to acquire and register land in her own right or in association with others;

In full compliance with national, regional and international aspirations women rights instruments, every land administration decision and action must fully involve women themselves as the rights holders; 

Every woman in Uganda is entitled to equal rights to access, own and control land regardless of her birth, age, tribe, social origin/affiliation, religion, marital and health/HIV status, fortune, and political or other opinion; It must therefore be the duty of every woman and man and the state to support and defend interests of women over land for purposes of their livelihood and dignity; and to prohibit and protect the rights of women and all persons affected and infected by HIV and AIDS on land;

Bad customary and written laws and practices that negatively affect the rights of women to acquire and own land be outlawed. To this end, Government must Institute formal and cultural deterrent instruments against individuals, groups or associations of persons or institutions that evict, dispossess or disinherit women of their land; 

Government should provide effective women’s land rights education and training to law enforcement officers, traditional/cultural and clan leaders, local leaders;

Government should provide universal legal aid for women to seek redress for any violations of their land rights.

Courtesy: Uganda Land Alliance Secretariat