Land in Our Names
"Our land, our story, our future."
A grassroots response to land justice struggles in Uganda
A Movement Born from Urgency
Across Uganda — especially in extractive zones like Kasese, Bunyoro and the Albertine Rift — communities are facing an alarming reality: large-scale land acquisitions, forced displacements, environmental degradation and broken promises.
These issues are not isolated; they are part of a broader pattern where communities are excluded from decisions that affect their lives, lands and futures.
The LION (Land In Our Names) Project is a grassroots response rooted in truth-telling, legal empowerment and community-led advocacy.
About the LION Project
The LION Project puts communities at the center of land justice struggles in Uganda. We believe that land rights are human rights, and that true development cannot happen without the meaningful participation of those most affected by land governance decisions.
Legal Empowerment
We provide communities with the legal knowledge and tools to defend their land rights against powerful interests.
Community Advocacy
We amplify community voices in policy discussions and ensure their perspectives shape land governance decisions.
Environmental Justice
We fight for land use that respects both people and planet, challenging destructive extraction and promoting sustainable alternatives.
The Unjust Detention of Uganda's EACOP Activists
In Uganda, where freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are enshrined in the constitution, 11 young environmental activists remain behind bars — not for violence, but for peacefully delivering a petition.
On April 23, 2025, these young Ugandans arrived at KCB Bank's offices in Kampala armed with nothing more than a well-researched petition. Their demand was simple: for KCB Bank to stop funding the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a project that threatens ecosystems, displaces communities, and exacerbates the climate crisis.
"We have applied for bail four times. Each time, the court ignored the minor nature of the trespass charge and the absence of any flight risk." – Eva Kakuma, CECIC Legal Team
Despite being entitled to mandatory bail after 70 days in remand, these activists have remained locked up far beyond legal limits. Court dates were postponed due to symposiums, missing files, and absences — patterns suggesting a deliberate attempt to silence dissent.
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP)
Backed by TotalEnergies and the governments of Uganda and Tanzania, EACOP spans over 1,443 km from western Uganda to Tanga Port in Tanzania. While touted as a development win, it comes at a high cost:
- Threatens biodiversity and water sources
- Displaces thousands of families
- Increases carbon emissions, contradicting global climate goals
Women's Land Rights Under Threat
In recent years, land conflicts have become an increasingly urgent issue across Uganda, affecting both rural and urban communities. At the heart of these disputes lies a troubling reality: women are among the most vulnerable victims, with their rights to land and property systematically violated.
Despite constitutional protections, women face dispossession, marginalization, and injustice. Traditional customs often override legal frameworks, leaving many widows evicted by male relatives. Without formal titles or legal recourse, they are left without shelter, security, or livelihood.
"Secure land tenure is closely linked to gender equality. When women lose access to land, they lose their independence and dignity." – CECIC Uganda
Corruption within the land sector has only worsened the crisis. Fraudulent land transactions, poor record keeping, and collusion between powerful elites and local authorities make it nearly impossible for women to reclaim what is rightfully theirs.
This isn't just a legal issue — it's a human rights emergency. Land is identity, income, and survival. For women, losing land means losing everything.
How Women Are Being Pushed Out
- Customary laws favoring men in inheritance
- Lack of joint land titles in marriages
- Collusion between investors and local authorities
Let's Roar Together
Because when we say "Land in Our Names", we mean it literally and politically.
Join the Movement