Uganda Land Alliance

The Alliance's key purpose is to protect and promote land rights. To that end, the group lobbies and advocates for fair land laws and policies that address the land rights of the economically poor, disadvantaged and vulnerable groups and individuals in the country. Specifically, it carries out lobbying and advocacy on:

• Women's land rights and co-ownership of family land
• Issues for inclusion in the National Land Policy
  Amendment of specific sections of the Land Act 1998
  Reform and revision of other legislation on land to conform with the Land Act
• Monitoring implementation of land laws and policies
• Encouraging alternative dispute resolution in land matters

ULA works to raise awareness about land rights among economically poor women, men, children and other marginalised groups. The Alliance uses public meetings and radio and newspaper advertisements to sensitise the public about land law and policy. It has also established Land Rights Information Centres in collaboration with partner/member organisations. These regional centres are charged with the task of ensuring increased awareness on land rights and obligations. Locations include: Kibaale district (with Uganda Rural Development & Training Programme (URDT) in Kagadi for Western region), Mbale (with Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA)-Uganda), and Kapchorwa (with Action Aid Uganda for eastern region and with Volunteer Efforts for Development Concerns (VEDCO) in Luweero). The Alliance also operates a centre with Legal Aid Project of Uganda Law Society in Kampala and has proposed to open another centre with Action Aid Uganda in Apac. ULA also provides legal and technical advice, as well as test case litigation, through these centres.

The Alliance's communication strategy is based on the belief that communication links with other organisations are crucial to the success of its work. Links with national and international partners are strengthened through the exchange of information and annual reports. Networking and collaboration are means for:

• Enhancing members' capacity
• Increasing information flow between and among members and ULA
• Fostering regional connections through: Land Net East Africa, Pastoral Civil Society programme of International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)/RECONCILE, the ILC, Oxfam GB in Uganda, and MWENGO

Economic Development, Rights, Environment.

The Alliance used its communication links and partnerships to persuade the government to pass the Land Act. It has become a partner of the Ugandan Ministry of Land and Environment to implement the Land Act and set up land tribunals around the country to preside over land disputes, for the benefit of the vulnerable in Ugandan society.

The Alliance was set up in 1995 as an independent legal entity and registered as a company limited by guarantee. The Alliance hopes for a Ugandan society where there is equitable access to and control over land, and where economically poor women, men and children are actively participating to eradicate poverty.