Uganda National Land Policy Implementation Action Plan 2015/16 – 2018/19.

This Uganda National Land Policy Implementation Action Plan 2015/16 – 2018/19 is a sectoral policy document. The Uganda National Land Policy (NLP) Implementation Action Plan is intended to address major challenges that have hindered the implementation of land reforms, thereby impeding the optimal utilisation of land for socio-economic development and transformation. Actions required to achieve the goals, policy objectives, and strategies stipulated under each of the seven frameworks presented in the NLP.
The Implementation Action Plan seeks to make agriculture more productive and sustainable. For instance, key actions are proposed for land rights of pastoral communities, including: Adopt and comply with the guidelines for responsible investment in agriculture to protect pastoral lands; Formulate a national pastoral policy to: (i) Prescribe clear principles for the ownership, control and management of pastoral lands in a policy by the Ministry responsible for livestock;(ii) Prescribe clear principles for voluntary resettlement of pastoral communities with approval of local governments in a resettlement policy;(iii) Ensure zoning to establish appropriate agro-ecological zones, pastoral resource areas and access, maintaining an equitable balance between the use of land for pasture, agriculture, energy, industry and for wildlife protection; (iv) Establish mechanisms for flexible and negotiated cross-border access to pastoral resources among clans, lineages and communities for their mutual benefit; and (v) Establish efficient mechanisms for the speedy resolution of conflict over pastoral resources in pastoral communities and sedentary communities; etc. In addition, in order to regulate the use of land and water resources for agricultural production aligned with a National Agriculture Policy, standards for the use of land and water resources for agriculture will be developed and adopted, a study on incentives to encourage voluntary consolidation of agricultural lands to promote optimal usage will be undertaken.
The Implementation Action Plan promotes to reduce poverty. Research shows that when women have secure access and rights to land, household wellbeing increases and all members of the family benefit. Priority Actions for the First Three Years are proposed, including programme area for measures to Protect and Improve Women’s Secure Rights and Access to Land are proposed. Actions to be implemented under this programme area include: i. Ensure that neither formal nor customary rules and procedures impede the transfer of land to women and children; ii. Educate and sensitise the public on land-related gender discrimination; iii. Review and regulate implementation of customary rules to ensure that women’s rights to family land are protected; iv. Build capacity and support the legitimate authority of customary leaders in upholding customary rules and respecting and strengthening the rights of women, children, and other vulnerable groups; Redress gender inequity and inequality linked to inheritance and ownership of land; etc.
The Implementation Action Plan promotes to enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems through actions such as: developing and implementing a program for promoting access and ownership of agricultural land resources by smallholder, women farmers.
To increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters, the Implementation Action Plan proposes: to establish partnerships with research and training institutions to build capacity on the interface between climate change and land resources; to establish a rewards mechanism for local governments that design and implement innovative programs in the areas of land resources and climate change mitigation and adaptation; etc.