Slum dwellers sensitized on land rights

By Stella Naigino

WOMEN in Jinja district have been asked to know their land rights to avoid being violated by men.

The call comes after many women have been battered by their husbands over land but, have not reported to the police since they are ignorant on land rights.

The call was made by Alexander Waibale, the chairman land board Jinja district during a workshop for slum women initiative for development (SWID) on land rights held at Travel Hotel.

In his report, Waibale stated among the 50% of land cases reported to the lands office, the most affected are women.

“This district needs special attention from the judiciary if government is to promote peaceful living among citizens. “This is another war which should be handled with maximum care,” he said.

He said the escalating land disputes in the district call for legal services to be availed to inculcate and promote justice within communities.

Waibale said women; especially in areas of customary land tenure system continue to face discrimination which has affected the country’s agricultural production.

He said if implemented the Land Policy will help streamline women’s access to land.

Last year, Cabinet approved the National Land Policy which looks at the role land plays in national development as well as issues of land ownership, distribution, utilization, alien ability, management and control.

The policy recognizes four tenure systems which include mailo, freehold, leasehold and customary tenure.

According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics, approximately 80 percent of Ugandan land is held under the customary tenure system implying most people acquire land through inheritance and succession.

Waibale said this has posed challenges to women since most societies are patriarchal and do not allow women to inherit land.

“A man should not lease, sell or use land in a bank as security without your consent and in case he does, report him to the officials, “Waibale advised.

Waibale said a person can be helped without paying money to land officials. “So women should not be scared of reporting land cases simply because they don’t have money”.

Joyce Nangobi, the SWID director said most women are left defenseless on land cases because the criminal justice system in land matters is not adequate.

She said widows are left homeless with orphans because family members think that after a man dies, they are free to take over the land from the widow.

She said this calls for greater commitment from all concerned parties to address this problem that has left many widows homeless.