Uganda Women’s Land Rights Agenda 2021

Uganda is notably known for its high dependency on agriculture as a major economic activity. According to the Budget Speech 2020/2021, the Agriculture sector plays a central role in Uganda’s economy, accounting for 45 percent of exports, and employs 64 percent of all Ugandans and 72 percent of all youths, thus its importance in influencing household incomes.

Land in Uganda has been identified as one of the most important household assets for promoting agricultural production and economic enhancement. Women who form the biggest percentage of the country’s population majorly dominate this sector. Secure land tenure is strongly associated with higher levels of investment and productivity in agriculture and therefore with high- er incomes and greater economic wellbeing. Secure land rights for women are often correlated with better outcomes for them and their families, including greater bargaining power at household and community levels, better child nutrition, and lower levels of gender-based violence (MLHUD Report, 2020)

The Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development mandate is to ensure rational, sustainable, and effective use and management of land and orderly development of urban and rural areas as safe, planned and adequate housing for socio-economic development.