KAMPALA, UGANDA: The Buganda Land Board and FIDA- Uganda have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help vulnerable women in the kingdom acquire land titles to strengthen the security of tenure.
The targeted vulnerable groups include Widows, elderly women, women-led families, women in far-to-reach areas, women living with HIV, among others.
The MoU which starts with the greater Luweero territory was signed by the respective CEOs, Omuk Simon Kabogoza (BLB) and Mrs Lillian Byarugaba Adriko for FIDA-Uganda on Friday afternoon in Kampala.
According to the officials, women represent 80 per cent of the agricultural labour force in Uganda and carry out most of the agricultural work producing up to 80 per cent of food and cash crops. However, despite their essential contributions to the national economy, only a few enjoy secure rights to the land they till. In fact, with control and ownership of land mainly concentrated in the hands of men, most women are crucially dependent upon male family members for access to land.
“Therefore, through this memorandum, Buganda Land Board and FIDA- Uganda shall mutually work together and leverage each other’s expertise to support vulnerable women to register their interests on land and acquire certificates of title under land managed by Buganda Land Board. “
The two parties shall also through their respective areas of operation collaborate to undertake interventions including the dissemination of legal information on land justice and address the legal disputes that arise through formal and informal legal systems.
“This MOU also presents a framework through which the two institutions are able to ensure gender-responsive practices in the land structures and administration including the Buganda Kingdom Local Government structures ie ‘Abatongole’, ab’Emiruka, ab’Amagombolola ‘Abamasaza ’and Buganda Land Board officials,” read in part in a joint statement released by BLB and FIDA-U.
“We will sign this MOU with the intention of continuing to work with FIDA-U on these issues. We have worked with them before to improve the well-being of communities and feel it was prudent to have this partnership formalized,” it added.
Speaking about the importance of formalizing this partnership, BLB CEO, Omuk. Simon Kabogoza said, “The MOU will not just run for 2-3 years, this partnership is necessary enough that we have made it open ending, so we may continue working on this issue without constraints”
FIDA-Uganda CEO Mrs Lillian Byarugaba Adriko on her part said that, “FIDA-Uganda is confident that this agreement lays fertile ground for the development of mechanisms which will assist women and marginalized groups struggling to secure land tenure”
Both Buganda Land Board and FIDA- Uganda are confident that this partnership presents a fertile ground for both partners to support vulnerable women in strengthening the security of tenure and also for cross-learning among the institutions.
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