Africa pastoralist women’s charter launched at Kampala conference

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The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has launched the African Rangelands and Pastoralists Women Charter, with a focus on capturing the voices of African pastoralist women on education, health, water and human rights.

The charter also amplifies issues of climate change affecting pastoralists, partnerships, investment agreements and how these can positively impact the lives of herders among African pastoralist women.

Above all, the charter highlights the voices of African pastoralist women on matters of rangelands, climate justice, equity and peace.

Speaker Anita Among arrives at the conference for pastoralist women at Munyonyo Speke Resort. (Photo by Olandason Wanyama)

Presiding over the official launch and closure of the five-day conference at Speke Hotel in Munyonyo, Kampala on March 18, 2026, Among expressed optimism that the charter will influence government policies at continental, regional and national levels.

She said discussions about rangelands often focus on men, yet women are at the centre of pastoral livelihoods.

“To talk about a woman is inclusivity,” Among noted, adding that women hold significant value within rangeland communities.

She further said men are often associated with focusing on the skin and meat of a cow, yet in discussions about the plight of rangelands, women play a central role.

“We have policies shelved without implementation,” she stated, adding that the government has done its best to protect pastoralists in the country.

However, she said the government has the necessary drugs to combat livestock diseases in regions such as Teso, Karamoja and parts of Western Uganda.

She thanked the government of Uganda for launching the disarmament exercise that has restored peace in the Karamoja sub-region.

“The entire Karamoja is free from cattle rustling,” Among stated, adding that land and climate change laws are in place to protect pastoralism.

She advised pastoralists to break negative cultural practices within their communities.

The Speaker also commended the government for investing along international borders to ensure the country’s security.

Additionally, Among noted that livestock theft has reduced significantly in recent years and that livestock farming remains a viable source of income.

“As government of Uganda, we want to pledge unwavering support to the pastoralist women,” she further said, adding that these women play a crucial role in animal care and household resilience.

She welcomed women pastoralists from Cameroon, Tanzania, Kenya, South Sudan and Benin, among other countries on the African continent.

Among also advised pastoralist women to desist from environmental degradation, noting that Ugandan herders should be grateful that “our president Kaguta Yoweri Museveni is a pastoralist.”

Speaker Anita Among appends her signature on the pastoralist charter at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala. (Photo by Olandason Wanyama)

Accompanied by parliamentarians, she appealed to the organisers of the conference to involve politicians in amplifying the voices of pastoralist communities.

Faith Nakut, the Napak district woman Member of Parliament, said pastoralism should be treated as a major economic venture among livestock keepers across Africa.

She asked the Speaker to support a motion to be tabled in Parliament next week, recognising pastoralist women as contributors to the country’s economy.

“We want that contribution to be recognised so that we can continue eating meat,” Nakut noted.

The conference was held under the theme, “Voices from the rangelands: African Pastoralists women rising for land rights, climate justice, equity and peace.”