By Michael Munyes and Sr. Fernanda Cristinelli, CMS
Widows Demand and Agitate for Their Land Rights
During a dialogue held on 12th October 2024 with women from Loputuk Village, the discussion focused on legal land rights and customary land tenure practices in Karamojong society.
Namoe, a 42-year-old widow from Aworobu Village, narrated her experience. Her husband had purchased a parcel of land and designated a portion for cultivating sorghum. Following his death, her late husband’s brother sold the entire property without her consent and excluded both her and her children from any share of the proceeds.
Similarly, Natee Antonietta, aged 36 from Loputuk, shared her story. After her marriage, her husband bought land and built a family home. Upon his death, her brother-in-law expelled her and the children from the property, locking them out. The clan took no action, merely watching as the brother-in-law and his wife moved into the house and continued living there. He refused to pay rent or provide any support for Natee’s children.
Both Natee Antonietta and Namoe are seeking support to regain possession of the land and homes that their late husbands had acquired during their marriages.
Cultural Norms and Land Tenure
In Karamoja society, widows face serious challenges regarding land rights. Traditionally, when a woman’s husband dies, she is often “inherited” by her husband’s brother or cousin, a cultural practice known as widow inheritance. This custom frequently forces widows into unwanted marriages and deprives them of control over their land and property.
Alice Logiel, a 50-year-old resident of Nayoroit Village, shared her experiences in asserting her land rights. A widow and mother of eight children aged between 12 and 30, Alice relies mainly on subsistence farming. She fulfills her roles and responsibilities in line with the patriarchal norms of her society, where women’s daily lives are defined by traditional expectations such as collecting firewood, fetching water, caring for small animals, cooking, ensuring the well-being of children, and teaching them their future roles.
After her husband’s death, Alice acquired a piece of land in her village. With assistance from the literate village head (LC1), she formalized a land transaction agreement, which was signed by the local land authority. She took this step based on knowledge gained through educational sessions on statutory land rights and formal land administration structures conducted by the Land Desk of the Diocese.
Three years ago, some neighbours approached Alice, asking to use her land for one planting season to grow maize for household consumption. Out of goodwill, she agreed. However, after the harvest, they refused to return the land, sparking a dispute over women’s land ownership rights in the community.
Alice, a determined and self-assured woman aware of her rights, persistently demanded the return of her land. Her calls were ignored, and she was met with hostility from her male neighbours.
A Defender of Women’s Land Rights
In pursuit of justice, Alice reported the illegal occupation of her land to the police. They informed her that under Ugandan law, the police can only intervene in land matters where criminal activity is proven. She was referred instead to the elders’ traditional mechanisms for resolving land disputes.
Knowing that customary norms often discriminate against women’s land ownership, Alice turned to the Management Committee (MC) of the newly forming Communal Land Association (CLA) of Acegeretolim for guidance.
The CLA Management Committee convened a community assembly, inviting local councillors, elders, and members of the Area Land Committee to hear her case publicly and reaffirm her ownership rights.
With the Area Land Committee’s endorsement and based on the written land agreement, the elders ruled that the disputed land rightfully belonged to Alice Logiel. The occupants were instructed to vacate and mark the boundaries with beacons after the meeting.
Since March 2024, Alice has been one of four women serving on the Management Committee of the Communal Land Association of Acegeretolim. The Association’s guiding principle is reflected in its motto:
“We stand for responsible land management, in which men and women exercise their land rights.”
Alice’s experience has made her a champion for women’s land rights within her community and the CLA. She actively encourages other women to assert ownership over their land and supports them in doing so.
She reports that the Land Desk’s awareness and education efforts on land rights have reduced land conflicts. Moreover, more women now participate in community meetings and confidently express their views. There is also growing social acceptance of women, including widows, as legitimate landowners.
To ensure widows can maintain land ownership and food security, which are vital for resilience against poverty and other socio-economic challenges, both the Land Desk and the Communal Land Association are advocating for the protection of widows’ land rights within the broader framework of women’s land rights.
Alice emphasizes that safeguarding land tenure rights is crucial to empowering the Karamoja community to preserve natural resources and promote peaceful coexistence within their environment.
