Uganda will host its first-ever Land Learning Week conference from June 9 to June 15, 2024, at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, bringing together stakeholders to discuss challenges and progress in the land sector, with a focus on government and Civil Society Organization (CSO) partnerships.
Hon. Judith Nabakooba, Minister for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, announced the conference during a press briefing at the Media Centre in Kampala on June 7.
"This conference will provide a platform for exchanging knowledge and sharing experiences in the land sector," she said, emphasizing the role of partnerships in achieving land tenure security. "
Uganda shall show how we have used partnerships to achieve land tenure security, and there shall be field visits to Dokolo and Butaleja Districts to share knowledge and experiences about Government-CSO collaborations.
The Land Learning Week is expected to attract 100 foreign delegates from over 40 countries and will cover a range of critical issues. Topics include handling forced evictions, land fraud, enhancing revenue generation from the land sector, and documenting women's land rights and those of Indigenous communities. Best practices for land reforms and securing land for investment will also be discussed.
Nabakooba highlighted the conference's focus on practical solutions and collaboration, noting that 600 Communal Land Associations (CLAs) have been incorporated through partnerships with organizations such as Landnet, PELUM Uganda, and the European Union.
Additionally, the government has issued 82,000 customary titles with support from FAO, ZOA, and Makerere University.
The conference has garnered support from notable sponsors, including the International Land Coalition (ICL), Land Collaborative, and the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF). Dr. Doreen Kobusingye of the National Land Coalition underscored the importance of these partnerships.
"We have reached a milestone in the Land Act proposed amendment, conflict resolution, and contribution to the National Land Policy 2013 assessment," she said.
"We thank the government of Uganda for the good partnership that has yielded good results in ensuring land rights and access to land for all vulnerable persons."
Frances Birungi Odong, Executive Director of the Uganda Community-Based Association for Women and Children Welfare (UCOBAC), stressed the need for further action despite existing progressive laws.
"Much as the government has formulated laws that are gender progressive, several Ugandans are not able to exercise their land rights," she noted.
The Land Learning Week aims to create a comprehensive dialogue on land governance and foster collaborative solutions to ongoing challenges.
The conference will also explore the role of partnerships in addressing issues like refugee land rights in hosting communities.
Nabakooba concluded by expressing hope that the event will lead to substantive improvements in land governance and secure land tenure for all Ugandans
