Members of Parliament on the Agriculture committee have urged the government to develop new policies to address land challenges, particularly for rural populations without land titles.
Committee chairperson, Linda Auma, speaking at a joint forum of the Eastern and Southern Africa Small-Scale Farmers’ Forum in Parliament, said many people lose their land to grabbers due to a lack of information.
Auma said women in her area are often denied land rights, especially after their husbands’ passing.
“Many widows face significant challenges due to limited knowledge of land rights. The poor in rural areas struggle to win land disputes in court because they are often compromised,” Auma said.
Hakim Baliraine, chairperson of the Eastern and Southern Africa Small-Scale Farmers’ Forum, noted that Uganda’s growing population is making land increasingly scarce. He proposed a special government fund to support vulnerable groups in improving their livelihoods on their land.
Luttamaguzi Ssemakula, MP for Nakaseke North, raised concerns about the Balalo, nomadic groups moving across the country and settling in Northern Uganda. He emphasized that the land issue, often politicized, must be addressed seriously as it is central to livelihoods.
MPs from the Karamoja region called for government intervention to empower vulnerable communities to retain their land.
Land rights are critical, and Auma stressed the need for joint efforts to disseminate information and empower rural communities.
