November 18–19, 2024 (Hotel Triangle,Mbarara – Uganda): As part of the review of Uganda’s National Land Policy (2013), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), through the Land Governance programme of its Agriculture and Environment Division, convened a two-day workshop for the Ankole and Kigezi Cluster, Uganda. The workshop aimed to gather stakeholder perspectives and recommendations for incorporation into the draft revised National Land Policy and to consolidate these inputs for adoption and approval by the National Land Policy (NLP) Review Working Group.
This is the third event in a series of regional meetings, supported by IGAD, to be held across Uganda over a two-week period, ensuring participatory development of a revised national land policy. The gathering included technical experts from the Uganda Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, a team of consultants responsible for creating the Land Issues Paper and the zero draft of the revised policy, as well as representatives from civil society organizations, Religious leaders, Resident District Commissioners, Cultural leaders, district officials from the 18 districts of the region, district gender focal person, technical experts on land and natural resources from the districts.
At the opening session of the meeting, IGAD Head of Mission, Joselyn Bigirwa, speaking on behalf of H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD Executive Secretary, emphasized that IGAD’s core mandates are peace and security, as well as economic integration. She highlighted that achieving these goals requires addressing the root causes of conflict in the region, which often stem from issues related to land and land-based natural resources. To this end, IGAD is working closely with member states to develop conflict-sensitive land policies and instruments aimed at preventing and resolving such conflicts. Additionally, IGAD is committed to inclusivity, ensuring that disadvantaged groups, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and broader community members, are actively involved in these efforts.
The Deputy Resident City Commissioner of Mbarara City, Mr. Kanusu Robert, stressed the need for a policy that addresses human development, equity, social justice, human security, and environmental sustainability, noting that all development relies on land. He highlighted the importance of incorporating sustainable natural resource development and advocating for a decent living environment. Given that much of their work involves mediating and arbitrating land-related conflicts, he stressed the significance of a comprehensive conflict resolution approach in the revised national land policy.
At the closing session of the meeting, the Minister of State for Lands, Hon. Sam Mayanja, emphasized the importance of revising the land policy to address the pressing challenges that have emerged over the past decade of implementation. He highlighted the complexity and dynamism of land issues in the Ankole region, noting that land is the foundation of livelihoods yet remains plagued by challenges such as increasing disputes, land grabbing, evictions, urban expansion, rising demand for infrastructure, and the impacts of climate change.
The meeting concluded successfully, with the participants from the Ankole/Kigezi region recommending the need to address landlessness, particularly among vulnerable groups such as orphans, women, and historically displaced communities like the Batwa. They highlighted the importance of securing tenure for community grazing areas and implementing measures to counter land fragmentation, which has significantly hindered agricultural productivity. Recommendations also included enhanced public sensitization on land rights, capacity building for local leaders and land committees, and the operationalization of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to effectively handle land conflicts.
The series of workshops across the country for the next two weeks is a testament of IGAD’s commitment through the support of Sweden and Uganda, to fostering a collaborative and inclusive process that guarantees the voices of all stakeholders are reflected in the revised Uganda National Land Policy.
