By: Ireen Twongirwe
Worth Noting:
- We are focusing on women and girls because they experience poverty, food insecurity more harshly, especially when it comes to land. For girls, land rights mean better nutrition, healthcare, access to education, and delayed marriage.
- In my opinion, the government of Uganda through ministry of lands need to sensitize women on their environmental and land rights, there is also need to put in place the implementation strategies so that article 26 of the constitution is followed so that communities that are being affected by compulsory land acquisition are fully compensated by government especially those affected by East Africa crude oil pipeline.
Women in Africa face legal and cultural barriers that prevent them from enjoying equal rights to land. This has major implications for their livelihoods, security, and their status within their homes and communities. Changes are needed to ensure that women have uninhibited access to land and the power to make their own decisions about land use. Such changes will be foundational for fostering human rights and democracy in Africa.
It’s important to note that Land is the foundation for shelter, livelihood, and climate resilience and fundamental for survival. More so, we should know that we cannot achieve gender equality without women’s equal rights to and control over the world’s most elemental resource land and property. Women’s land rights are fundamental human rights.
Furthermore, land is central to power and identity, control over land is fundamental to gender justice. It’s clear to note that in Africa according to tradition culture , women are never allowed to own or access land which has limited their power in the society. However under article 26 of the 1996 constitution, every citizen has the right to own land and to live in a healthier environment. It’s very unfortunate that vulnerable women are still unaware about this article.
In addition, Article 26 empowers citizens to own property and/or receive prompt, fair and adequate compensation during compulsory land acquisitions.
For everyone, regardless of gender, stronger rights for women and girls mean more prosperity, peace, and sustainability. This is because women have the indigenous knowledge on how to utilize and manage natural resource management.
For women, land rights mean more equal power within the home and community, and ability to realize economic opportunity and legal rights. Once women are given access to land, there will be increased food production, climate change mitigation and adaptation, increased employment opportunities since majority depend on agriculture and there will be social economic development.
We are focusing on women and girls because they experience poverty, food insecurity more harshly, especially when it comes to land. For girls, land rights mean better nutrition, healthcare, access to education, and delayed marriage.
In my opinion, the government of Uganda through ministry of lands need to sensitize women on their environmental and land rights, there is also need to put in place the implementation strategies so that article 26 of the constitution is followed so that communities that are being affected by compulsory land acquisition are fully compensated by government especially those affected by East Africa crude oil pipeline.
More so, when a woman holds secure rights to her land, power dynamics shift. Her dignity, household decision-making, and economic freedom increase. In addition, Strong land rights will help women to break the cycle of poverty and improve not only their own lives, but those of their families and whole communities.
Lastly, women’s land rights are key to addressing the deeply gendered issues of climate change, food security, and global health.
It’s therefore important for vulnerable women to know their land rights to improve on the social economic development of the country.
“Women cannot be owned as property, but land as property can be owned by women.”
For God and my country
Ireen Twongirwe
Executive Director Women for Green Economy Movement Uganda.