Civil society activists have called on Members of Parliament to integrate land governance issues into their manifestos as the country prepares for the 2026 general elections.
The call was made during a national-level engagement on Land Rights and National Development Plan IV, held at Parliament. Speaking at the event, Hakim Baliraine, Chairperson of the Eastern and Southern African Small-Scale Farmers’ Forum, stressed the urgent need for political leaders to address persistent land rights issues.
He pointed out that Uganda continues to grapple with legal loopholesand poor enforcement of existing land laws, which has left many communities vulnerable to land grabs and displacement.
Baliraine emphasized that land is central to Uganda’s development and food security, particularly for smallholder farmers, yet it remains a politically sensitive and often neglected issue in national campaigns.
Linda Auma, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Agriculture Committee, welcomed the input from civil society but encouraged a more comprehensive approach that extends beyond Parliament.
Auma, who is also the Lira District Woman MP, noted that while Uganda has sound policies on land governance, implementation remains weak, particularly in rural areas where women and children continue to suffer land-related injustices.
She concluded the one-day engagement by calling for stronger collaboration between Parliament, civil society, and local governments to ensure land rights are not only protected on paper but upheld in practice.
By Francis Lubega
30th June 2025
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