LAND RIGHT ADVOCACY

LAND RIGHT ADVOCACY: Free Land Camp Launched in Apac to Tackle Customary Disputes, Empower Female Farmers In a major effort to curb escalating land conflicts and protect vulnerable communities, a specialized land camp has been launched in Apac District. The initiative aims to fast-track the formalization of customary land ownership, with a specific focus on protecting the rights of women and smallholder farmers. The intervention comes at a critical time. Local authorities in the Lango sub-region have expressed deep concern over a surge in land-related violence. Statistics from local government offices indicate that some sub-counties have been registering up to 20 violent land disputes per month, many of which stem from boundary overlapping, illegal evictions, and family disagreements over unregistered customary land. Empowering Women and Smallholders The specialized camp is being spearheaded by the Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF) Uganda, working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, alongside local district leadership. Customary land tenure accounts for the vast majority of land holdings in the Lango sub-region. However, without formal documentation, these lands remain highly susceptible to encroachment. Women are often the most affected, frequently facing dispossession by male relatives following the death of a spouse or parent. "Securing land tenure is not just about peace; it is about economic survival," said an ESAFF Uganda representative during the launch. "When smallholder farmers, especially women, do not safely own the land they cultivate, they cannot confidently invest in long-term agricultural improvements. This directly impacts household food security and income." Free Legal Aid and Subsidized Titles To address these barriers, the land camp is offering direct, grassroots solutions:

• Free Legal Mediation: Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms are being used to mediate ongoing family and boundary conflicts outside the costly court system. *** Subsidized Formalization:** The camp introduces a cost-sharing model that significantly lowers the financial barriers for rural families applying for Certificates of Customary Ownership (CCOs).
• Sensitization: Local communities are being educated on the Land Act, succession laws, and the legal frameworks that guarantee equal land rights for women. Local Leaders Call for Calm Apac district leadership has welcomed the initiative, urging residents to utilize the land camp to resolve grievances peacefully rather than resorting to violence. Local magistrates and sub-county chiefs noted that the clogging of local courts with land cases has slowed down the administration of justice, making community-led mediation camps a vital alternative. The land camp exercises are expected to continue across targeted sub-counties in Apac, with civil society organizations pushing for similar models to be replicated across the entire Lango sub-region to ensure lasting peace and agricultural sustainability.