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

Context and background In 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 in...

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Main Authors: Andrew Adem, Rashidah Namatovu, Michael Farrelly
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EL-AYACHI 2022-01-01
Series:African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revues.imist.ma/index.php/AJLP-GS/article/view/30465
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author Andrew Adem
Rashidah Namatovu
Michael Farrelly
author_facet Andrew Adem
Rashidah Namatovu
Michael Farrelly
author_sort Andrew Adem
collection DOAJ
description Context and background In 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 communities Women have developed negotiating capacity, which they have applied in different areas of their lives. Increased collaboration among different stakeholders Increased awareness on land issues among small scale farmers, especially women Increased platforms for women’s engagement in policy issues
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spelling doaj.art-11111e5d12a54d4d9e5acb2fb8b84ab82024-02-17T07:13:00ZengEL-AYACHIAfrican Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences2657-26642022-01-0151Women’s Land Rights as a Pathway to Food Security in UgandaAndrew Adem0Rashidah Namatovu1Michael Farrelly2Eastern and Southern Africa Small-scale Farmers' Forum (ESAFF) UgandaEastern and Southern Africa Small-scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF) UgandaAFSA Context and background In 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 communities Women have developed negotiating capacity, which they have applied in different areas of their lives. Increased collaboration among different stakeholders Increased awareness on land issues among small scale farmers, especially women Increased platforms for women’s engagement in policy issues https://revues.imist.ma/index.php/AJLP-GS/article/view/30465Gender Action Learning (GALS)LandLand RightsFood Security
spellingShingle Andrew Adem
Rashidah Namatovu
Michael Farrelly
Women’s Land Rights as a Pathway to Food Security in Uganda
African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences
Gender Action Learning (GALS)
Land
Land Rights
Food Security
title Women’s Land Rights as a Pathway to Food Security in Uganda
title_full Women’s Land Rights as a Pathway to Food Security in Uganda
title_fullStr Women’s Land Rights as a Pathway to Food Security in Uganda
title_full_unstemmed Women’s Land Rights as a Pathway to Food Security in Uganda
title_short Women’s Land Rights as a Pathway to Food Security in Uganda
title_sort women s land rights as a pathway to food security in uganda
topic Gender Action Learning (GALS)
Land
Land Rights
Food Security
url https://revues.imist.ma/index.php/AJLP-GS/article/view/30465
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