WOMEN,LAND TENURE SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS IN AMURU DISTRICT

Abstract

Amuru district in northern Uganda has had intense land rights violations over the past fourteen years. There have been large scale land investments for commercial agriculture and other activities with limited community engagement, In many families men have sold off family land to ‘investors’ without consultation of their wives. The wave of commercialization and individualization of land has negatively affected women’s tenure security and livelihoods. Goals and Objectives This paper analyses the nexus between women’s tenure security and livelihoods in Amuru District. Methodology The study used an explanatory sequential mixed methods design and a total of 159 women were reached in Amuru, Lamogi, Atiak and Pabbo sub-counties of Amuru District. Results Women were facing intense land rights struggles as communal land tenure was losing its grip to a more individualised and commercialised tenure system. Women’s livelihoods mainly attained through agriculture were under threat, however women have demonstrated agency and resilience which this paper will document. Women have used their income to buy land and solidify their land claims by documenting their land jointly or independently. Women have also used their farming groups to open up more land and their village savings group to finance their livelihood activities that besides agriculture include charcoal burning, trading and brewing alcohol.

Keywords

• women
• land tenure security
• livelihoods
• agency
• amuru
• uganda