(Ecofin Agency) - In Uganda, the commissioner equity and rights, ministry of gender labour and social development, Bernard Mujuni, announced a few days ago that a Bill to protect the rights of women and minority groups on land acquisition was under study. The announcement is quite understable as only 6% of registered and titled land belong to women.

Mr. Mujuni who was speaking at a regional minority and indigenous people’s network meeting in Kampala, said the government was concerned about wellbeing of its population, all of it.

“This law is meant to protect the social impact on indigenous women and minorities. We want to make sure they benefit from the gains of their ancestral lands, acquire land rights on resettled areas too. It is already in progress and has reached the consultation level; once it is ready we shall forward it to Parliament for enactment,” Mujuni said

It should be recalled that the Ugandan government in September this year proposed amendments to the land code to reinforce the legislation against land grabs.

Souha Touré