SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT HAS LAUNCHED AFRICAN RANGELAND AND PASTORALIST WOMEN CHAPTER ,URGING WOMEN TO OWN LAND

By Our Reporter

Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among has challenged Women across African countries to rise up and fight outdated cultures that deny women from owning land.

According to Anita Among Key obstacles that hindered women from owning land include deeply rooted customary norms, male-dominated inheritance systems, and lack of capital to purchase land. 

In Sub-Saharan Africa broadly, less than 13% of women own land, while 38% and in.

Uganda, women own approximately 20% of the land formally, rising from only 2% in 1995, yet this still represents a significant gender gap compared to men. While women constitute over 60% of the agricultural workforce, they often lack control over land, with estimates ranging from 5% to 26% ownership depending on the region and study.

Officiating at the closing of a landmark gathering and the official launch of the African Rangelands and Pastoralists Women Charter at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala,Anita Among emphasized the critical yet often overlooked role of women in pastoralism, noting that discussions on rangelands have historically focused on men, leaving out the indispensable contribution of women in sustaining livelihoods and supporting communities.

She conveyed greetings from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and reaffirmed government support for pastoral communities through policies such as the National Land Policy and the Climate Change Act. She also highlighted ongoing efforts to ensure peace and stability in rangeland areas, including disarmament initiatives in Karamoja and cross-border collaboration to curb livestock theft.

Speaker Among noted that Uganda’s rangelands, which cover nearly half of the country’s land area and form part of the “Cattle Corridor,” support millions of people. She stressed the need to recognize the central role played by pastoralist women in animal care, food production, household resilience, and peacebuilding.

The Speaker further called for inclusive policies that strengthen women’s leadership, secure land rights, and promote climate adaptation and sustainable food systems. She highlighted key challenges affecting pastoral communities, including land fragmentation, climate variability, limited veterinary services, and gaps in policy implementation and data.

She underscored the importance of the gathering in amplifying the voices of pastoralist women and ensuring their participation in decision-making processes that affect their livelihoods.

She stressed that government remains committed to creating an enabling environment for pastoralism to thrive, strengthening the rights of pastoral communities particularly women and addressing the impacts of climate change 

The event brought together over 200 participants from across Africa, including grassroots pastoralist women, government officials, civil society organisations, and regional leaders committed to advancing gender equality, climate resilience, and sustainable land governance.