Buganda Land Board (BLB) and the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA Uganda) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to help women and vulnerable groups to have a better understanding of ownership of land so as to achieve economic justice for women and vulnerable communities in Buganda.
Speaking at the signing ceremony Simon Kabogoza the CEO Buganda land board, highlighted that this MOU will not only center on Buganda Kingdom but also cut across to the welfare of all citizens.
‘We have worked with FIDA before but this is a more official agreement between the two institutions that will bridge the gap of inadequate information especially when it comes to land rights and landmanagement. Over the years we realize that a lot ofwrangles have erupted due to lack knowledge about land rights in communities. This has posed a great threat especially to women who are unable to defend themselves causing many of them to lose their land. We intend to bridge these knowledge gaps and ensure proper documentation with the help of our new partners FIDA’
This MoU purposes to strengthen security of tenure for especially vulnerable women in the greater Luweero territory. Such vulnerable groups include, Widows, elderly women, women led families, women in far to reach areas and women living with HIV.
FIDA-U has been working with the Buganda Land Board on advancing women’s rights and interests in land.
Liliane Byarugaba Adriko the CEO – FIDA said that she was glad that this was an opportunity that the Buganda land Board was able to take up.
‘Now more than ever it is important that women and vulnerable groups are supported to know their rights when it comes to land. Many have been victim to land grabbing because of their lack of knowledge on both land and property rights. This partnership is set to see change in our communities and educate the womenabout land ownership and the legalities involved’
Representing 80 percent of the agricultural labor force, women carry out most of the agricultural work producing up to 80 percent of food and cash crops. Despite their essential contributions to the national economy, only few women enjoy secure rights to the land they till.
In attendance was Bashir Kizito Juma – Buganda land board surveyor who noted that this joint collaboration offers a unique joint cause to further promote landrights literacy but at the same time also empower women to know that they too can own land without being harassed.
‘What makes this kind of MOU special is the fact that it is not time bound and it is something that will run for a course of time. We believe that the supporting of women and vulnerable groups to better understand their rights is something that should continuously go on. Therefore, through this MOU we will support and ensure that women acquire right ownership documents of land’
through this memorandum, FIDA- Uganda and the Buganda Land Board shall mutually work together and leverage on each other’s expertise to support vulnerable women to register their interests on land and acquire certificates of title under land managed by Buganda Land Board. Bulemeezi and Buruuli will be among the first areas to be sampled in the light of this new MOU. This is because both areas have been sighted as areas with high land wrangles however some success stories have been realized through FIDA’s intervention.
The signing of the MOU also happens to at a time when the Katikiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga is celebrating his 10years of service.
