Her Right to Land: Empowering Grassroots Women in Land Governance, Fostering Climate Justice, Environmental Sustainability, and Gender Equality in Northern Uganda, Dokolo District

Abstract

Gender inequality in land governance remains a significant challenge in Northern Uganda and a barrier to climate resilience, social justice and sustainable development for post conflict communities where customary tenure systems dominate and patriarchal norms limit women’s access to and control over land. Despite their critical role in agricultural production and environmental stewardship, women are often relegated to insecure "user rights" that are neither transferable nor inheritable, leaving rural women trapped in poverty, at constant risk of losing their homes, land, and struggling against the worsening effects of climate change (Apecu, 2018). The disparity is particularly acute in Dokolo District, a community affected by the LRA war for the last 20 years, where customary systems prevail perpetuating poverty, marginalization, and vulnerability to climate change impacts.

While Uganda’s legal frameworks, such as the 1995 Constitution and the 1998 Land Act Cap 227, provide for gender equality in land ownership, weak enforcement and entrenched cultural practices continue to undermine these rights at the community level. “Her right to land” project seeks to address these systemic barriers by creating gender equality awareness in land governance through a multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral approach. The project will equip community leaders and women with the knowledge and tools to challenge discriminatory practices; raise awareness on gender inequality in land governance, equip women and local leaders with legal knowledge on the existing legal and traditional frameworks to resolve land disputes, and mobilize community support for women’s land rights. Mobile legal aid clinics will offer direct services to women, while targeted training, community led dialogues and workshops will empower women to confidently navigate legal systems to resolve land disputes and engage community leaders and communities to dismantle the gender stereotypes and inequalities that hinder women's access to land.

Additionally, data on women's land ownership and climate-resilient farming practices will be collected to document the positive impacts of secure land tenure for women on environmental outcomes and agricultural productivity. The project will also empower women as community change agents who will contribute to systems change and enhance women’s access to land rights, enhance environmental sustainability and climate justice.