Nabakooba wins international award for protecting people’s land rights

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Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba has received an international award for protecting the land rights of vulnerable Ugandans and championing justice.

This was during the Pan-African American Leadership Award (PAALA) ceremony organised by the African Women in Leadership Organisation (AWLO) in Houston, Texas, on October 13, 2025.

AWLO is an international not-for-profit organisation founded in 2009 to promote women’s leadership through gender parity, leadership effectiveness, and global development.

According to a press statement from the lands ministry, the event recognised several outstanding leaders of African descent for their remarkable contributions to their communities and industries.

In recognition of her achievements and unwavering dedication to justice and dignity for all Ugandans, Nabakooba was described as a true voice for the voiceless in the country’s land sector.

AWLO noted that Uganda’s land sector has long faced challenges of inequity, exploitation, and exclusion. However, amidst these challenges, there are leaders whose voices rise above the noise, standing firm to protect the rights of the vulnerable and to champion justice, transparency, and accountability.

“Tonight, we honour one such leader. A woman whose leadership has transformed the way the government engages with ordinary citizens on land matters, a woman who has tirelessly worked to give a voice to those who had been silenced for too long,” the citation says.

It stated that, in recognition of her outstanding leadership, integrity, and tireless commitment to protecting the rights of Uganda’s citizens, Nabakooba has emerged as a powerful and consistent voice for the voiceless in the land sector.

The citation also said that as lands minister, Nabakooba has spearheaded transformative initiatives aimed at addressing long-standing injustices, promoting equitable land governance, and ensuring that marginalised communities are heard and protected.

It added that the minister has demonstrated exceptional courage and empathy in confronting systemic challenges in land administration, including land grabbing, corruption, and the exploitation of vulnerable groups.

For example, she has initiated an innovative online land management system that bypasses middlemen in land transactions by empowering landowners and buyers to initiate transactions, verify ownership authenticity, and complete sales directly.

“Because of her value system for the voiceless, tens of thousands of grassroots households have had their land surveyed and have received documented land titles as proof of ownership,” the statement said.

It also highlighted that Nabakooba’s decisive interventions in land conflict areas, her insistence on transparency in land transactions, and her open-door policy for affected communities have given hope and visibility to ordinary citizens who previously felt ignored by the system.

It noted that, through her leadership, the lands ministry has prioritised community sensitisation, streamlined service delivery, and strengthened institutional accountability to ensure that government actions respond to people’s needs.

“She has actively engaged with local leaders, cultural institutions, women, youth, and civil society to build trust and collaborative solutions to complex land issues. Her efforts have helped curb illegal evictions, protect lawful landowners, and uphold the constitutional rights of Ugandans, especially the poor and voiceless,” the citation said.

The organisers revealed that, beyond administrative reforms, Nabakooba has used her public platform to advocate for fairness, justice, and responsible land use.

They noted that, beyond her role as Minister for Lands, she previously served as Woman MP for Mityana District. During her tenure, she chaired the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, where she played a key role in overseeing security and internal affairs policies.

She is also the chairperson of the Housing and Urbanisation Sub-Committee under the African Union’s Specialised Technical Committee on Public Service, Local Government, Urban Development, and Decentralisation.

Nabakooba grateful

Commenting on her recognition, Nabakooba expressed gratitude and pledged to continue working to transform the lives of vulnerable groups.

“I am indeed honoured to have this award presented to me. It is a gesture of serving humanity, and I feel more energised when I return home to do more than what I have been doing to serve humanity, especially vulnerable groups,” she said.

She thanked the organisers for the recognition and pledged her commitment to the organisation.

“This is great for us Africans, and you have made Africans excel, especially women and girl children. When I go back to Uganda, I promise to engage, mobilise fellow women leaders to join this important women's organisation,” Nabakooba said.

Highlights of the day included an inspiring keynote speech by Nyakan June, a distinguished African transformation strategist, powerful networking sessions, and a celebration of resilience and excellence in leadership across Pan-African and American landscapes.