Women’s Land Rights Under Threat in Uganda

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 being systematically violated. Despite constitutional protections and legal frameworks that affirm women’s land rights, the situation on the ground tells a different story. As land becomes more valuable and contested, women continue to face dispossession, marginalization, and injustice. These violations are not only perpetuated by private individuals and powerful elites but also, disturbingly, by government agencies tasked with protecting citizens’ rights.

The violation of women’s land rights is not a new phenomenon in Uganda, but it has been exacerbated in recent years due to growing commercial interests, weak governance, and corruption within the land sector. Land is more than just an economic asset—it is deeply tied to identity, livelihood, and social status. For many Ugandan women, especially those in rural areas, access to land determines their ability to feed their families, earn income, and maintain autonomy. Yet, traditional customs, patriarchal norms, and inadequate enforcement mechanisms continue to undermine their right to own, inherit, or use land freely.

In many parts of the country, customary laws still dominate land tenure systems, often sidelining women’s rights in favor of male-dominated inheritance practices. Widows, in particular, are frequently evicted from their late husbands’ land by relatives who claim ownership based on lineage. Without formal land titles or legal recourse, these women are left without shelter, security, or means of survival. In some cases, they are forced to return to their parental homes, where they may be treated as dependents rather than independent adults. This not only strips them of their dignity but also reinforces cycles of poverty and vulnerability.

The problem is further compounded by increasing pressure on land resources driven by population growth, agricultural expansion, and large-scale land acquisitions. Private investors, political elites, and even state-backed projects have intensified competition for arable land, often at the expense of smallholder farmers. Women, who make up the majority of subsistence farmers in Uganda, are disproportionately affected by these land grabs. Reports have emerged from various regions—including Nakaseke, Mubende, Kayunga, and others—where entire communities have been forcibly displaced to make way for infrastructure development, mining operations, or agribusiness ventures. In many such cases, local authorities collude with powerful actors to dispossess families without due process or fair compensation.

What makes this crisis even more alarming is the role played by certain government institutions. Agencies that are supposed to safeguard land rights and ensure justice have instead been implicated in illegal land grabs and human rights violations. Local councils, police units, and even military personnel have been deployed to evict families violently, often without court orders or proper documentation. Corrupt officials within the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development have also been accused of issuing fraudulent land titles or facilitating unlawful transactions. These actions not only violate national laws but also erode public trust in the very institutions meant to uphold the rule of law.

The lack of transparency and accountability in land administration has created an environment ripe for exploitation. Land records are often poorly maintained, making it easy for fraudsters to manipulate documents and claim ownership over land that does not belong to them. Women, who are less likely to hold formal land titles due to historical exclusion and socio-cultural barriers, find themselves particularly vulnerable in such situations. Even when they do possess legal documents, they may struggle to enforce their claims due to limited financial resources, lack of legal literacy, and gender-based discrimination within judicial processes.

The consequences of landlessness for women are far-reaching and devastating. When women lose access to land, they lose their primary source of income and food production. In a country where agriculture employs over 70% of the female labor force, land dispossession directly translates into economic hardship and increased poverty. Without land, women are unable to grow food for their families or generate income through farming. They become dependent on others, often leading to heightened vulnerability to exploitation, abuse, and trafficking.

Beyond the immediate economic impact, the loss of land also undermines women’s autonomy and decision-making power within their households and communities. Secure land tenure is closely linked to broader gender equality. It enables women to invest in long-term improvements, access credit facilities, and participate in community leadership roles. However, when land rights are insecure, women remain marginalized, excluded from critical decisions that affect their lives and futures. This not only affects individual women but also hampers national development by limiting the full participation of half the population in economic and social progress.

Children also suffer the consequences of their mothers’ land insecurity. Displaced women often struggle to provide stable living conditions for their children, impacting access to education, healthcare, and nutrition. In many cases, girls are pulled out of school to help with domestic responsibilities or sent to live with relatives, increasing their risk of early marriage and teenage pregnancy. Boys, too, may be forced into informal labor to support the family, exposing them to hazardous working conditions and exploitation.

To address this deepening crisis, the Ugandan government must take urgent and decisive action. While several laws exist to protect women’s land rights, including the Land Act and the Succession Act, enforcement remains weak. There is a glaring gap between policy and practice, with many women unaware of their rights or unable to assert them due to systemic barriers. Strengthening legal frameworks alone is not enough; what is needed is a comprehensive and coordinated approach that prioritizes transparency, accountability, and gender-sensitive reforms in land governance.

One of the first steps should be the establishment of independent oversight bodies within the land sector to investigate allegations of corruption, illegal land grabs, and human rights abuses. These bodies must be empowered to prosecute those responsible, including public officials who facilitate or turn a blind eye to such violations. Ensuring that justice is served will not only protect women’s rights but also restore confidence in the land administration system.

Additionally, there is a need for greater investment in legal empowerment programs aimed at educating women about their land rights and providing accessible legal aid services. Many women are unaware of the legal avenues available to them or cannot afford the costs associated with litigation. Expanding paralegal networks, community outreach initiatives, and mobile legal clinics can help bridge this gap and empower women to challenge injustices effectively.

Land registration processes must also be made more inclusive and equitable. Currently, many land titles are registered solely under men’s names, leaving women unrecognized as co-owners. Reforms should ensure that both male and female names are included in land documentation, and that joint ownership is encouraged as a standard practice. Digitalizing land records can also help reduce fraud and manipulation while improving transparency in land transactions.

At the community level, engagement with cultural leaders and civil society organizations is essential to shift harmful norms and promote gender equality. Traditional leaders play a significant role in land dispute resolution, especially in rural areas. Therefore, efforts must be made to sensitize them about women’s rights and encourage them to support legal and equitable outcomes in land matters. Collaborating with women’s groups, grassroots organizations, and faith-based institutions can further strengthen advocacy efforts and amplify women’s voices in decision-making spaces.

Moreover, the government should prioritize policies that promote secure land tenure for all citizens, especially vulnerable groups such as women, youth, and internally displaced persons. This includes recognizing and protecting customary land rights, ensuring fair compensation during land acquisitions, and establishing clear procedures for dispute resolution. Investing in land reform that prioritizes equity and inclusion will go a long way in preventing future conflicts and promoting sustainable development.

Uganda’s commitment to international human rights obligations must also translate into concrete action at home. As a signatory to various international conventions, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Uganda has pledged to uphold women’s rights to land and property. Fulfilling these commitments requires more than rhetoric it demands political will, institutional reform, and sustained investment in gender-responsive governance.

Ultimately, the protection of women’s land rights is not just a matter of justice; it is a prerequisite for national development. Empowering women with secure land tenure contributes to economic growth, food security, and poverty reduction. It strengthens household resilience, improves child welfare, and fosters inclusive societies where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. By taking bold steps to address land conflicts and safeguard women’s rights, Uganda can set a powerful example for the region and beyond.

As the ongoing land wrangles continue to unfold, it is imperative that the government rises above political expediency and takes decisive action to protect the most vulnerable. Women should not have to fight for the right to own the very ground beneath their feet. It is time for the state to lead not just in words, but through tangible reforms that uphold justice, equity, and the rule of law. Only then can Uganda truly fulfill its promise of dignity, security, and opportunity for all its citizens, regardless of gender.