UGANDA, Acholi| Real Muloodi News | The Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development has directed civil and cultural leaders in the Acholi Sub-region to give special attention to the rights of women, children, and vulnerable groups during the ongoing customary land registration initiative.
This directive aims to address concerns regarding equitable land ownership and mitigate potential conflicts arising from exclusionary practices.
During a training session for cultural leaders on the issuance of Certificates of Customary (Land) Ownership (CCOs), Mr. Byantalo Hassan Abdallah, a senior lands officer at the Ministry, emphasised the importance of including women and children in the land registration process.
He stressed that neglecting their interests could exacerbate existing land-related challenges in the region.
“Our women should have unlimited access to land, and the best way to ensure this is by including our spouses’ names on the certificates during registration,” said Mr Abdallah. “It is essential to harmonise our customs with the law to avoid legal repercussions, as overlooking the rights of women and vulnerable groups may lead to litigation.”
Mr Abdallah highlighted the Ministry’s awareness of numerous complaints regarding the irregular sale of land, where men exclude their wives from land transactions.
Acknowledging this issue, Mr Otinga Otto Atuka, the Acholi Chiefdom Deputy Paramount Chief, attributed such practices to the pursuit of quick financial gains, resulting in the infringement of women’s and children’s land ownership rights.
“People view land as a commodity for sale, leading to the marginalisation of women’s rights to land ownership,” noted Mr Atuka, addressing the prevalent greed-driven land sales.
The Ministry initiated a mass registration of customary land in January 2024 as part of efforts to address widespread land disputes in Uganda. This initiative has seen the issuance of thousands of CCOs to families and clans across the region, particularly in Agago and Nwoya districts.
According to Mr. Leonard Ojok, the Agago District Chairman, recent customary land registration exercises in Paimol and Lapono sub-counties have significantly reduced land-related conflicts. This highlights the effectiveness of formalising land ownership through the issuance of CCOs in resolving disputes and promoting peaceful coexistence within communities.
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