Zombo, Uganda: In the Alur region of northwestern Uganda, a transformative revolution is taking shape, one anchored in the fundamental rights to land, justice, and dignity.
For decades, communities in remote areas such as Nyapea Subcounty in Zombo District have endured land injustices, many of which remained unresolved due to a lack of awareness, access to legal services, and the necessary platforms to speak out.
Today, however, these communities are beginning to experience a shift, thanks to a collaborative intervention led by Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF Uganda) and its strategic partners.
Working closely with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, ESAFF Uganda is implementing two flagship initiatives: the Power of Voices Partnership (PVP) and the Responsible Land Governance and Investments Project.
These initiatives are supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders, including Oxfam Uganda, FIDA Uganda, Action for Community Empowerment (AFCE), the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), Uganda Agribusiness Alliance (UAA), and SEATINI Uganda.
Together, they aim to promote equitable land governance, enhance tenure security, and economically empower smallholder farmers, particularly women, through community engagement and legal empowerment.
The cornerstone of ESAFF Uganda’s approach has been the deployment of mobile legal aid clinics. These clinics, organized in partnership with FIDA Uganda, bring legal services directly to the grassroots, often setting up in village centres and churches in hard-to-reach areas like Nyapea.
The impact has been significant. Community members who had long suffered in silence are now registering cases of land grabbing, boundary disputes, illegal sales of communal land, and more.
According to Michelle Mich, a lawyer with FIDA Uganda, the legal aid clinics are not merely forums for resolving individual disputes, but vital platforms for education and empowerment. “We meet people one-on-one, take them through their legal rights, and offer remedies ranging from mediation to court referrals. Most importantly, we equip them with knowledge on how to protect themselves in the future.”
Many of the residents had previously been unaware of the processes involved in land registration or how to seek justice through legal channels. With guidance from ESAFF and FIDA, community members are now learning to navigate legal hierarchies, engage local authorities, and document land ownership, tools that are helping to shift the culture from informal negotiations to formal rights-based redress.
Personal Stories of Transformation
This legal awakening is best illustrated through individual stories of justice restored. Florence Afoyacan (37), a mother of four from Ajele Village in Oseye Parish, Nyapea Subcounty, had hired land from a man named Obedgiu Tani to cultivate food for her family. Midway through the season, the land was sold along with her crops, and she was not compensated.
For months, Florence sought help from local authorities in vain. It was only when ESAFF and FIDA stepped in that she found redress. Through mediation, Tani was compelled to refund her, and both parties were reconciled. “I had lost hope,” Florence admitted, “but the intervention gave me justice I didn’t think was possible.”
Another compelling case is that of Oroma Frida, a small-scale farmer in Ajele Village. Since marrying into her husband’s family, she had been the sole cultivator of crops for food and sale. However, traditional gender norms denied her the right to sell her produce without her husband’s permission, and she had no say in how the income was used.
With support from FIDA’s legal clinic, Frida and her husband were counselled. Today, she enjoys greater autonomy, able to sell produce, invest in her own projects, and even seek financing for a small business. “It used to be a taboo,” she recalled. “Now, my husband supports me in using the land productively and pursuing financial independence.”
Training Focal Teams for Sustainable Change
ESAFF Uganda’s strategy extends beyond legal clinics. To ensure sustainability, the organization has trained local focal teams using a specially developed Community Engagement Tool (CET). This tool equips local leaders with the knowledge and skills to engage communities, investors, and government authorities constructively and peacefully.
Emmanuel Ayikanying, the head of the Nyapea Subcounty focal team, explained, “Our role is to sensitize people about their rights, how to engage with investors, and how to determine land value through proper resource mapping. This ensures communities are not exploited or displaced without due process.”
The CET also proved vital in addressing a contentious issue in Ajere Hills, where the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has occupied communal land since 2021 without prior consultation or compensation.
The presence of the army led to displacement and destruction of property. Armed with CET training, community members petitioned the Ministry of Defence through the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), demanding inclusion in the process and fair compensation.
Deputy RDC Bruno Manano affirmed during a community dialogue that the government had not formally acquired the land and that any future occupation would follow assessments, consultations, and compensation. “Most people were ignorant about land ownership,” he said. “Now, with this engagement, we’re creating peace. People no longer need to fight over land.”
Shifting Agricultural Priorities for Better Livelihoods
Beyond resolving disputes, ESAFF Uganda is encouraging communities to rethink land use for economic development. Many smallholder farmers in the region previously focused on growing annual crops like beans, which provide minimal returns. ESAFF is now sensitizing farmers to consider transitioning to higher-value perennial crops such as coffee and tea.
Ronald Bagaga, ESAFF Uganda’s Programmes Manager, emphasized the importance of tenure security in unlocking these economic opportunities. “We’ve issued Certificates of Customary Ownership (CCOs) to women-headed households, giving them a secure legal standing. This empowers them to make decisions and invest in value chains with better returns.”
The program is already bearing fruit. Farmers who once depended on subsistence agriculture are now exploring commercial farming and agribusiness ventures with long-term potential.
ESAFF Uganda’s integrated approach, combining legal aid, community engagement, policy advocacy, and economic empowerment, is setting a new standard for grassroots development in Uganda. By restoring land rights and empowering communities with the tools to defend and negotiate for their interests, ESAFF and its partners are turning historically marginalized regions into models of resilience and legal awakening.
As Superintendent of Police Dennis Kamugisha, the RDC of Zombo, cautioned, “Land matters should not be resolved through violence. Understand your rights, follow the law, and seek justice through authorized channels. That is the only path to lasting peace.”
In a region once plagued by silence and helplessness, the voice of justice is now being heard—clear, unwavering, and deeply transformative.
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