Insecure land tenure systems across most
parts of Uganda could prevent communities from taking up climate adaptation and
mitigation practices.
This was one of the concerns of politicians and land experts
at a symposium on land governance held at the Parliament of Uganda on Friday.
The symposium was held under the theme;
“Securing land rights to support climate change adaptation and sustainable food
systems”
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas
Tayebwa is a speech said that safeguarding the land rights of individuals and
groups remains a major concern, in light of Uganda’s rapidly growing
population, unregulated urbanization, and inaccessible justice institutions.
Tayebwa noted that adverse climate change effects are mostly borne by
smallholder farmers and marginalized groups including women, particularly on
agricultural productivity and land degradation.
“In the face of these challenges, securing land rights emerges as a fundamental
pillar of climate change adaptation and sustainable food systems. Land rights
provide the foundation upon which resilient communities can build their
livelihoods, protect their natural resources, and adapt to changing climatic
conditions,” read part of his speech delivered by Kigulu South MP, Milton
Muwuma.
Tayebwa observed that the intersection of
land governance, climate change adaptation and sustainable food systems,
remains a pressing challenge that requires urgent attention and collective
action.
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He
alluded to Articles 26, 50(4), and 238 of the Constitution provide for the
right to own property, the power of Parliament to make laws for the enforcement
of rights and freedoms, and the Uganda Land Commission’s (ULC) mandate to
manage land in Uganda, respectively.
“Individuals, NGOs, and various institutions have utilized these Constitutional
provisions and other laws to seek redress in case of violations of land rights.
Let us seize this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to promote land tenure
security,” Tayebwa said.
Inter-governmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) special report on climate change and land recently noted that insecure
land tenure affects the ability of people, communities, and organizations to
make changes to the land that can advance adaptation and mitigation.
Uganda continues to face challenges
related to the different land tenure systems. Some individuals live in fear of eviction
by landowners who in most cases are absentee property owners.
It is in that respect that participants
at the symposium noted that a person with insecure rights on a piece of land might
not practice recommended climate adaptation and mitigation measures.
According to the IPCC report, adaptation is
about adapting to life in a changing climate. The goal is to reduce our risks
from the effects of climate change- like sea-level rise, more intense extreme
weather events, or food insecurity, to name a few.
The
IPCC observed that when indigenous peoples, local communities, small-scale
farmers, and pastoralists have secure land rights, they have the security to
apply their unique knowledge for climate change adaptation, such as through
grazing rotation and sustainable water management.
The IPCC
notes that having secure land rights allows local communities to have a seat at
the table and a voice when it comes to developing and implementing climate
change adaptation policies.
It notes that
secure land rights also reduce the chances of being removed from land because
of external adaptation policies (such as programmes for carbon offsetting) without
compensation and the opportunity for redress.
Christine Kaaya Nakimwero, the Chairperson of the Uganda Parliamentarians Land
Management Forum noted that lack of land courts and limited financing to the
Land Fund have contributed to land disputes in the country.
“We have a number of approved practices to help our farmers go through climate
change but they are all land-based. If someone does not have secure land
tenure, how will these practices take place?” Kaaya asked.
She added that the symposium will propose ways forward to update the current
land policy which will in turn lead to a review of the Land Act (Cap.227), and
thus promote climate change management and improved food security.
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Heleen Saaf, the Cordaid Uganda Country Director said the symposium will
provide a vital platform to explore land management solutions, adding that the
country’s land policies should serve and protect all Ugandans.
Francis Odokorach, the Oxfam Uganda Country Director observed that land
inequality has widened and made the poor more vulnerable, leading to gender
injustice, rural poverty, and biodiversity loss.
“Our country should show efforts in addressing land injustice and prioritize women's land rights. Uganda has seen progressive legislation on land management,
and we hope that affected persons of land injustice will be heard,” he said.
