February 22, 2025, (Karamoja, Uganda): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in collaboration with Uganda’s Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, and with financial support from the Embassy of Sweden in Addis Ababa, has successfully facilitated a participatory physical land use planning process in Kacheri Sub-County and Kacheri Town Council, Kotido District, Karamoja Region. This initiative, modelled on lessons learned from the Mandera Cluster, aims to enhance sustainable land management, community resilience, and regional stability.
The Karamoja Cluster—a predominantly agro-pastoralist region—is known for its fertile soil but faces significant challenges due to climate variability and land-use conflicts. With only one rainy season, rain-fed crop production is difficult, making pastoralism the primary livelihood. However, increasing population pressure, land fragmentation, and disputes over ownership and access are undermining traditional pastoralist systems, exacerbating competition for scarce water and pasture resources.
To address these challenges, IGAD, alongside Ugandan authorities and local communities, conducted a five-day participatory land use planning exercise to map out existing natural resources and infrastructure, identify and prioritise land use challenges, analyse the impact of land-related issues on livelihoods, particularly for women and youth, and develop inclusive, gender-responsive, and conflict-sensitive solutions for sustainable land management.
During the consultations, Mr Emmanuel Kaganzi, Uganda’s Commissioner of Physical Planning, emphasised that land use planning is central to sustainable development. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implement the plan and scale it to other regions, ensuring communities have access to secure land tenure and improved climate resilience.
IGAD Land Governance Legal Expert, Mr Muhyadin Mohammed, highlighted the importance of inclusive and community-driven planning processes. He underscored that gender-responsive and conflict-sensitive approaches are essential for ensuring equitable land access, economic empowerment, and regional peacebuilding.
The planning process—completed on 22 February 2025—marks a significant milestone in promoting sustainable land use and climate resilience in the Karamoja Cluster. IGAD remains committed to supporting the Government of Uganda in scaling up effective and inclusive land governance for the benefit of local communities and regional stability.
