LEMU Annual Report. 6 th January, Land and Equity Movement in Uganda (LEMU)

Transcription

1 LEMU Annual Report 2014 Photograph 1: A Senior Principal Land Officer from The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development presents the National Land Policy provision on responsibilities of traditional institutions in land management to Lango Clan Heads during the Lango PPRR Review workshop organized by LEMU at Lango Cultural Center in August th January, 2015 Authors: Judy Adoko, LEMU - Executive Director Theresa Eilu Auma, LEMU - Director of Programmes Samuel Eriaku, LEMU - Soroti Programme Manager David James Arach, LEMU - Monitoring & Evaluation Manager L E M U Land and Equity Movement in Uganda (LEMU) Making land work for us all

2 Table of Contents Message from the Board Chairperson...3 Message from the Executive Director Who we are Highlights of events and activities Brief Description of Activities and Achievements of the year Special challenges Members of the Board of Directors Donor Partners

3 Acronyms: LEMU Annual Report 2014 CLPP Community Land Protection Programme DEO District Environment Officer DOP Director of Programmes (in LEMU) ED Executive Director (of LEMU) FLRT Family Land Rights Tree GIZ German Institute of Cooperation HR Human Resource ICRW International Centre for Research on Women ICU Iteso Cultural Union IDRC International Development Research Centre IT Information Technology LCF Lango Cultural Foundation M&E Monitoring and Evaluation NLP National Land Policy NULP Northern Uganda Land Platform PM Programme Manager (in LEMU) PPRR Principles Practices Rights and Responsibilities (publication customary law book) 2

4 Message from the Board Chairperson In partnership with traditional institutions/clans, the judiciary, Police, banks, district local governments and land rights holders, LEMU partly achieved her Vision of A Ugandan society with land tenure security and equitable land rights that make land secure for all for equitable development. Generally, LEMU s interventions during year substantially contributed to the improvement of the land tenure security in North and Eastern Uganda and awareness of issues related to Customary Tenure among the land rights actors across all sectors. LEMU s key areas of focus this year was complementing the efforts of the Ministry of Lands in dissemination of the new National Land Policy (2013) and especially those provisions related land governance and improving security under customary land tenure. Other key interventions included resolution of land disputes, training officers of land rights protection mandated institutions on issues of customary land tenure, protection of community/wetlands in Lango sub-region, building the capacity of the traditional institutions (clans) to take up their responsibilities as in the National Land Policy, Registration of Clans in Teso for the first time to strengthen the governance structures so as to improve the protection of the vulnerable members of the communities like women and children. Members of the Board of Directors continue to lead LEMU to greater heights and hope for greater achievements in the coming year (s). We therefore extend our sincere gratitude to the community leaders, volunteers, staff and development partners who stood as frontline advocates to enable LEMU support protection of the land rights of the citizens of Uganda, especially the vulnerable groups in On a sad note, we regret the demise of one of our hardworking and brilliant member -, Prof. Fred Opio Ekong who passed on in April 2014 after a car accident May his Soul Rest In Peace. Am also honored to announce that The Board of Directors was joined by four (4) highly experienced and respected Ugandans whose contribution for the next three years will not only increase the visibility of LEMU but also increase a recognition and support for customary land tenure which LEMU has tirelessly worked to advocate for in the last ten (10) years. Our new Board Members include; Prof. Mahmood Mamdani, Mr. Simon Amajuru, Mr. John De Coninck and Prof. Pascal Odoch. Finally I would like to extend our great appreciation for the service of Ms, Santa Vusia Kayongo, Mr. Arthur Larok and Mr. Godber Tumushabe who completed their tenure as board members in Rosemary Kaduru Awino, Board Chairperson. 3

5 Message from the Executive Director LEMU Annual Report 2014 Since the formation of Land and Equity Movement in Uganda (LEMU) in 2003, she has steadily grown to become an authority of issues related to Customary Land Tenure in Uganda. Over the years, LEMU has greatly contributed to the development of laws especially the National Land Policy (2013) and worked to strengthen the Traditional Institutions (Lango, Teso, Kumam, Acholi, Bunyoro and West Nile) Socially Mandated to govern customary land through the documentation and application of customary laws. LEMU acknowledges the weaknesses in the customary land governance systems and therefore works with relevant stakeholders to ensure improvement in the way the customary land leaders perform their roles of land rights protection. With the funding of approximately 1.3 billion Uganda Shillings in 2014, LEMU continued to build on the work and processes of the previous years working through and with others to create a Movement of people and institutions who understand and apply correctly the knowledge of customary land rights. This Annual report therefore summarizes the interventions of the dedicated team of LEMU staff, volunteers and consultants working to improve the situation of land rights of vulnerable citizens in North, East, West Nile and Bunyoro regions of Uganda. I therefore call upon the entire citizens of Uganda, Development partners and Academic institutions to join the movement of customary land rights protection so that we can Make Land Work for Us All. Sincerely, Judy Adoko, Executive Director 4

6 1. Who we are: Photograph 4: LEMU staff during a monitoring and evaluation meeting in June institutions, local people under customary tenure, civil society organizations, development partners, students, researchers, elders, volunteers and others to improve on the land rights and tenure security of the poor. We ensure that policies, laws and structures are put in place to allow all Ugandans to have profitable land rights. Our commitment is to serves as a link between government and communities: to educate rural communities about their rights, roles and responsibilities under Uganda s 1998 Land Act and National Land Policy 2013, while simultaneously working to help government (policy markers) and NGOs and all relevant actors understand rural communities experiences of Land tenure insecurity. LEMU Boasts of about 50 committed employees, international and national volunteers and consultants whose great work has contributed to the increase of LEMU s visibility, knowledge among land rights actors and confidence of the local community members confidence in their own customary ways of managing customary land for the good of all Ugandans. Our dedicated staff work tirelessly work through our Apac, Soroti, Lira and Kampala offices to enable LEMU realize her objectives summarized below: Illustration 1: LEMU Strategic Plan ( ) at a Glance Vision A Ugandan society with land tenure security and equitable land rights to make land secure for all for equitable development Land and Equity Movement in Uganda (LEMU) is a Non government Organization (NGO) that works to promote the improvement of security of land rights under customary tenure. We work to unite the efforts of the government of Uganda, traditional Overall Goal To strengthen security of equitable land rights for the well-being of vulnerable people in Uganda Objectives 1. To enable citizens to understand & engage meaningfully with laws, policies, abusive practices and issues on land tenure 2. To reduce vulnerability through protection of land rights and prevention of their abuse 3. To strengthen traditional and state institutions in land management and protection of land rights 4. To conduct research and advocacy to enable policy makers to support customary tenure for socio-economic development 5. To build LEMU institutional capacity to fulfil its mission 5

7 2. Highlights of events and activities LEMU Annual Report 2014 During 2014, LEMU focussed on the key areas of interventions highlighted below: Implementation of the National Land Policy (2013): A total of 13 workshops held with customary and state institutions to take forward the implementation of the National Land Policy on measures to protect land rights in customary tenure and on the clan committees as institutions of first instance in handling land conflict cases. Resolution of land disputes: There was emphasis on making LEMU s new approach in supporting clans to mediate land cases work by training the relevant clan committees. Community Land Protection Program: Increased collaboration with NEMA Authorities to protect wetlands and working with communities to manage their community lands and resources in Lango sub-region. IDRC Research Project: LEMU launched a three year research project funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) on the Impact of Protecting Community Lands and the Impact of Customary Land Justice Systems versus State Systems. Building Alliances and Policy Advocacy: LEMU initiated debates and new tools/approaches among NGOs (Northern Uganda Land Platform) members and policy makers regarding the improvement of security of tenure for customary land tenure in North and Eastern Uganda. Principles, Practices, Rights and Responsibilities (PPRR): LEMU continued the distribution and monitoring the implementation of PPRR books (customary laws) in Lango, Teso, Kumam and began the documentation of the customary land laws (PPRR) for Bunyoro and West Nile Regions. Registration of clans in Teso: LEMU started partnering with Iteso Cultural Organization (ICU) in 2012 and in 2014, the first draft list of Teso clans was produced for the first time in the history of Teso. Training police and other land rights protection institutions: LEMU trained the police in Lango on customary tenure, family land rights and enforcement of laws and court judgments for protection of land rights. Publications: Based on the work experience of LEMU staff and volunteers, LEMU published and printed about 30 publications of different topics regarding the protection of land rights especially under customary tenure. International policy Advocacy and publications: LEMU Executive Director presented on how to improve the security of customary tenure in Uganda at the World Bank Conference at Washington DC in March 2014, Lira Program manager also presented LEMU s approaches to protection of community lands and resources at the African Union Land policy in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. In order to influence the strategies and approaches of organizations working to protect the community land rights in Africa, The Program Director contributed articles in Africa Symposium Book on community land protection in August

8 3. Brief Description of Activities and Achievements of the year 3.1: Policy Advocacy and Implementation: An event that determined many LEMU activities during the year was the approval of the National Land Policy in 2013 with provisions reflecting the key issues of protecting customary land tenure that LEMU has been advocating: protecting land rights through boundary trees and sketch maps, recognizing the clans as courts of first instance. LEMU facilitated numerous training workshops and meetings in Lango, Teso and Acholi to implement the policy provisions. The key stakeholders were from the district local governments in Lango, Teso and Acholi and consisted of RDCs, LC5, CAOs, District Environment Officers, Land officer Cultural Institutions and District Land Boards. This intervention lead to the creation of the Regional National Land Policy Implementation task forces in Lango, Teso and Acholi focusing on boundary tree planting, strengthening clan governance responsibilities. LEMU field offices in Apac and Soroti report that this intervention has created a positive result - the number of people planting boundary tree and drawing and signing of sketch maps to secure land rights has grown from 35% to 41.2% in Lango in one year and 67% of the people met in workshops inteso in 2014 reported that they have planted trees. Photograph 5: LEMU Executive Director facilitating in a workshop to disseminate the National Land Policy with stakeholders in Lango in June At the national level, LEMU is a member of 3 committees of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development; The National Land policy implementation committee; the Sector Working group and The systematic demarcation working group. LEMU was also recently nominated to be on the Access to Justice Civil, Land Justice Sub-Committee of JLOS. Through these important policy forums, LEMU is able to inform policy makers of the real challenges and propose solutions that can lead to the improvement of tenure security and land justice. 3.2 Resolution of land dispute cases reported to LEMU offices in Apac and Soroti: In 2014, LEMU changed the approach of resolution of land dispute cases from direct staff facilitation to training of the responsible clan leaders with skills and knowledge of customary land rights and principle of natural justice so that they can take this work which is their essential role under the new National 7

9 Land Policy also as a sustainability strategy. LEMU staff in Soroti and Apac trained various clan committee members to train in customary law, family land rights tree (FLRT 1 ) analysis and principles of natural justice. At the trainings the clans resolved to: not charge court fees, to charge uniform land inspection fees of shs 15,000/= per conflicting party, to plant boundary trees spaced a metre apart, at a fee of 5,000/= for each head of family, and to draw maps indicating names of all with land rights to be done in the presence of all neighbours and the LC1 chairpersons. Under this new strategy, LEMU has recorded a decline in the number of cases reported to LEMU in 2014 to only 17% compared to the previous years at an average of 43% (this means the clan committees are actually taking up resolution of cases without having to involve LEMU anymore). The new strategy of LEMU is a way of testing the readiness of the clans to take up their role as courts of first instance for customary land dispute cases as provided for in the National Land Policy In the coming year (s), LEMU will work to monitor the commitment of the clans and the extent to which this strategy will contribute to a percentage increase in the number of cases resolved and a reduction in the number of cases reported to LEMU. 3.3 Community Land Protection Program (CLPP) Lango Sub-region: Between 2009 and 2011, LEMU in partnership with International Development Law Organization (IDLO) carried out a pilot project to protect community lands 2 in Oyam district. This resulted to about seven (communities) strengthening their land management systems through documentation of rules and election of leaders and offered LEMU very useful learning that were documented in a project report protecting community lands and resources evidence from Uganda. From 2012 to date, LEMU has partnered with mainly Namati and USAID SAFE to implement the community land protection program in the whole of Lango sub-region based on the learning 3 from phase 1 pilot project in Oyam district. Based on the learning from previous intervention, LEMU (with technical support from Namati staff) has over time developed a streamlined process 4 for protecting community lands as indicated below; The first step is to Lay the groundwork: To the lay the ground for protecting community lands, LEMU uses strategies such as; community identification, facilitating a visioning exercise for the community, facilitating valuing resources in the community lands, carrying out legal education, establishing a coordinating committee to carry out community mobilization and facilitating election and training of Community support persons (CSP) to work as paralegals an extension of the program facilitation done by community members for sustainability and greater impact. This entry process needs careful facilitation because the main intention here is to have the community members unity to have a common vision and attach value to their community land hence the zeal to protect it, otherwise if not done well it s where most communities drop from the program. 1 Family land rights tree is a new tool initiated by LEMU to enable land disputes resolution actors in analyzing land rights without depending on witnesses who may not tell the truth. 2 In the context of LEMU s work, community lands refers to lands used by a village or a group of villages/clans for common purposes mainly grazing cattle, firewood, building materials, water and other community livelihood resources. Most of these common lands are adjacent to wetlands so the intervention includes wetlands protection. 3 Learning made from 2009 to 2013 I. Out of 87 communities who approached LEMU for support, 63 communities were assessed. II. Out of the 63 communities assessed, only 04 (06%) are conflict free & 94% are encroached on & disputed. III. Out of 63 community sites LEMU is working with, 03% (2sites) of the CL in Lango are not part or adjacent to wetlands. 32% (20 sites) are wetlands and 65% (41) are adjacent to wetlands influencing LEMU to handle community wetland management (environmental protection) in the same way 4 Please read LEMU s publication on Community Guide How to protect your community lands and resources for details about each process 8

10 Secondly, ensure good governance of lands and natural resources: Under this process, LEMU facilitates the communities to write rules 5 with sections covering issues related to good governance, natural resource management, social issues including gender and membership, leadership structures and roles and enforcement of the rules. This process of the CLPP has proven to be the most difficult but with the greatest impacts in the communities where the process in completed. The third step of the process is to document communities land claims: It should be noted that the documentation process facilitated by LEMU mainly focuses on the strategies that enable communities to document their claims within the customary tenure from an oral system to a written system and not from customary to state/titling system. Some of the key strategies used by LEMU include; Drawing of sketch maps and planting boundary trees, Boundary harmonization & land conflict resolution with community members and neighboring communities. Fourth step, LEMU prepares communities to develop, prosper and manage their land under the new system: This step is what LEMU envisions can help communities manage their land rights sustainably after moving from an oral to a written land management system but because most of the communities LEMU works in have not fully completed the previous steps, LEMU has no experience implementing the proposed strategies below; Ecosystem regeneration, Livelihood trainings, Negotiating and transacting with investors (local and foreign), Rural planning and Financial management. Key CLPP Activities in 2014: The staff of LEMU in Lira field office followed the above processes to protect community lands across Lango sub-region in 25 communities. LEMU carried out a total of community meetings facilitating strategies/topics such as; site identification, visioning for the future, leaders orientation, identification and training community support persons, writing rules for community land management. Other interventions carried out outside the community include seven (7) radio talk shows 7 on the different steps that communities were implementing and advocacy work ; Workshop of the Lango wetland protection taskforce, magistrates land justice harmonization task force, workshop of the District Environment officers to deliberate on the issuance of wetland user permits. To promote the concept of community land protection, LEMU staff also developed a folk song (with video) and this is being distributed around Lango and Acholi regions. Finally, LEMU in partnership with Namati also convened a conference on community land protection for about 30 NGOs working on land issues in Karamoja, Bunyoro, West Nile, Lango and Acholi regions. LEMU and Namati presented their CLPP implementation processes and strategies so that these NGOs could identify what is applicable to improve their intervention. In the future, this kind of training may be a necessity for many NGOs that may embark on implementing the World Bank funded project through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to scale up the formation of communal land association across Uganda. 5 This is a long and intensive program which takes every community between 6 Months to 1 year 6 Through the 158 community meetings held in 25 communities in Lango sub-region, LEMU Lira office reached a total population of 10,494 people (6,234 men and 4,260 women) across Lango sub - region. 7 Through the radio talk shows conducted at Unity fm in Lira and Devine fm in Apac, LEMU estimates to have reached a total population of 2.5million people in the districts of; Lira, Apac, Kole, Dokolo, Oyam, Amolatar, Otuke, Alebtong,Abim, Gulu, Kiryandongo, Kaberamaido, Agago and Pader with information on community/wetland protection. 9

11 Photograph 6: LEMU staff and NGO actors from Acholi, Lango, Teso, Karamoja, West Nile and Bunyoro after the CLPP conference organized by LEMU in October 2014 at Pauline Hotel, Lira. 3.4 Launch of a Research Project Project funded by IDRC: During 2013 LEMU, working with likeminded partners in Liberia, Mozambique and United States of America won a research grant from the Canada-based International Development Research Centre (IDRC) to evaluate the Impact of Protecting Community Lands and, for Uganda alone, the Impact of Customary Land Justice Systems versus State Systems to run for three years ( ).. The research was launched in June 2014 and is being implemented as much as possible by LEMU staff under the technical support of a Principal Investigator and a Data base Consultant 8. The key findings during of the research will constantly be used to inform interventions and policy advocacy work for the harmonization of the state (courts) and traditional (clans) land justice systems for improved security of customary land tenure. 3.5 Research: During the year LEMU completed the dissemination of the finding of a 2013 research with 5 banks that give loans to communities in Lango and Teso using customary land as collateral. Before the banks could adopt the research recommendations, LEMU has been tasked to develop a proposal based upon which the banks can work with LEMU to make customary land more economically viable for loans and investment by finance institutions. Since the research on banks issuing loans using customary lands was linked to issues around the Certificate of Customary Ownership (CCO), LEMU with Trocaire on behalf of the Northern Uganda Land Platform commissioned a research to find out key implementation issues from about 19,000 CCO that was reported to have been issued in Kasese. A report from this study was presented and adopted by the members of the Northern Uganda Land Platform members in November NULP members agreed that the key gaps in the the implementation of the CCO in Kasese will be highlighted to the Ministry of Lands, Housing and urban Development to protect the land rights of vulnerable people such as women whose names were in most cases left out of the CCOs. 8 The US Based consultant is supporting LEMU to use a web based data base system Sales force to monitor land dispute cases and impact of CLPP. 10

12 3.6 Registration of clans in Teso: To facilitate the organization Development of Iteso Cultural Union (ICU), LEMU prioritized to strengthen the governance structures by facilitating the process of registering clans in Teso for the first time. In 2014 LEMU produced the first draft list of the Teso clans at 1,050. ICU ministry of culture will review this list and ensure only authentic, gender sensitive clans are registered so that they can be held accountable to protect the lad rights of vulnerable members of the communities in Teso. 3.7 LEMU Publications in available at Based on the legal provisions regarding land and the experiences of LEMU staff working in North and Eastern Uganda, LEMU produced many publications in 2014 year.. There is evidence that some of the Stakeholders are reading LEMU publications and quoting them in their research and in their work. For example, the representative of UN Human Rights quoted the 50-75% percentage of women under attack of land grabbers from LEMU s publication on Let s face up to Land Grabbing and the research on land grabbing. She also said I want to congratulate LEMU for documenting customary land rights that protect women s land rights in Lango. She then quoted S.7A of the PPRR which says when a husband dies the widow becomes the head of family 9. LEMU publications in 2014 are categorized as; research reports and books, information leaflets on land rights, policy advocacy and community land protection. Research reports and books 1 Police Research report on land related crimes in Lango, printed in Report of the Study Visit on Certificate of Customary Ownership in Kasese District, October Unable to Return: Internally displaced persons (IDPs) seeking defense of their land rights to customary home lands in Amuria district, Teso region, Eastern Uganda, October Lango Impact Assessment report printed in Police records research report on Land related crimes in Teso, printed in Bunyoro Land tenure security research report, printed in Land Rights Hand Book (consultancy) published by USAID-SAFE Information leaflets on land rights 8 Titling pack (Will papers help me protect my Land?), reprinted 9 Let s face up to Land Grabbing pack, reprinted 10 Understanding and strengthening women s Land rights under customary Tenure, reprinted 11 Principles of Natural Justice ( English, Kumam, Ateso and Luo version) 12 Know the Law on compulsory acquisition -reprinted 13 Women left holding the bag: Irresponsible clan Governance is the cause of land rights abuse of women and children in West Nile 9 This was during the workshop that was organized by UWONET in Hotel Africana Kampala in May, 2014 where LEMU presented a paper on women s land rights and the National Land Policy, 11

13 Policy Advocacy 14 Is the clan justice system ready to assume a greater role in land administration, as provided for in the 2013 Uganda National Land Policy? 15 Family land titles: the best strategy to ensure security of tenure for women and children 16 Is documenting customary land system against the New Uganda National Land Policy? 17 Loans research policy brief with banks and financial institutions 18 Do current petroleum Laws and policies consider and adequately cater for the alternative livelihoods of Land owners where oil and gas are found? 19 Certificates of Customary Ownership (CCO) in the Northern and Eastern Uganda 20 IGP policy brief on police response to land grabbing crimes under section 92 of the Land Act Community land protection 21 Community Guide: How to protect your community s land and resources LEMU & Namati, Can Wetland User Permits co-exist with traditional wetland use? 23 Wetland Encroachment Policy Brief (English and Luo version) 24 What can you do in a Wetland? 24 Community land justice in Uganda: Towards Meaningful Harmonization 25 What Assumptions are made when communal land registration is promoted? 26 Overcoming Loopholes in Community Land Registration 27 Lessons from the field #1:Visioning the future 28 Lessons from the field #2: Responding Appropriately to Encroachment 29 LEMU partnership with Environment Protection Institutions (NEMA & DEO) 30 Beyond the Encroacher of the Moment: The Case of Bar Kitwe in Amolatar district. An Article submitted to NAMATI and Natural Justice to be Published in The Africa Symposium book on protection of community lands and natural resources 3.8 Networking, building strategic alliances and movements of land rights actors: Over the years, LEMU has increasingly grown to be an authority on customary land tenure issues. In 2014 LEMU staff were invited to present, train and participate in regional, national and international forums for increasing advocacy and knowledge on customary tenure. For example the Executive Director (ED) attended the World Bank Annual Conference on land and presented on customary land tenure security, she also participated in an international M&E training workshop organized by International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) and the Lira program manager presented LEMU strategies for community land protection at the African Union Land Policy conference. At the national level, the ED was given a gift by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MLHUD) in recognition of her contribution to the writing of the National Land Policy At the regional levels, LEMU was selected to chair the GIZ NGO Customary land tenure interest groups in Teso and train them to effectively carry out interventions that improve security of tenure in Teso. On a related note, Amnesty international contracted LEMU staff to train their partners in Acholi sub-region on management of land under customary tenure. In the Northern Uganda Land Platform (NULP), LEMU actively participated in sharing tools and strategies for adoption by NGO members for protecting land rights in communities for example the use of family land rights trees and family land titles. On the invitation of GIZ, LEMU also facilitated the traditional institutions in West Nile and they started the process of developing their Customary land laws Principles, Rights and Responsibilities (PPRR) 12

14 as a basis for protecting the land rights of the most vulnerable women and children in WestNile. 3.9 Training police officers in customary law: LEMU trained police officers twice in Lango; 49 officers comprised of DPC s, O.C Stations, and CID officers, Community Liaison Officers, Land Desk Officers, RPC, as well as the Resident State Attorneys and Prosecutors. These were police officers who had been recently transferred from outside the region. The second training was for 78 officers in charge of outposts from the districts of Apac, Oyam, Kole and Lira. In both trainings, the police officers were trained in customary tenure, how to draw and use family land rights tree as a tool for analyzing land rights to use in assessing if a crime under section 92 of the Land Act is committed. The Officers were also informed of the National Land policy on Boundary tree planting and sketch map drawing during which training they agreed to join the regional campaign on boundary tree planting and sketch map drawing; to use the PPRR book and use the tool of drawing of family land rights trees in clarifying and determining land rights. In the first training, the DPC s, CLO s, RPC and PRO were selected to represent the police in the Lango National Land Policy Implementation committee. Picture 7: Police officers in charge outposts in Apac, Oyam, Kole and Lira after being trained in customary law at Daysinn hotel in Lira, August

15 4. Special challenges: LEMU Annual Report 2014 The majority of people NGOs, donors only believe in Certificates, titles. Some do not understand that these processes remove land from customary tenure with associated risks of land rights loss; Ugandans continue not to read (except when doing research) and continue to have no deeper interests and analysis of issues. They continue to profess the generalities of the bias against customary tenure. Writing articles and publications for international audience takes a lot of time and yet it s difficult to show the impact it has on the intended audience. Management of cases supported by LEMU in courts are still a challenge because of the many cases set for hearing in one day, preference to criminal cases; absenteeism of magistrates and LEMU s advocates without any prior notice. Land grabbing cases continue to present challenges as they are not easy to mediate and yet the Inspector General of Police is difficult to meet to discuss the arrests under S.92 of the Land Act which, if used, could deter land grabbing. The clans no longer implement their roles and their values; most are acting as greedy men and are not protecting land rights. The state actors on the other hand continue to interpret the clans abuses as bad customs. Most donor partners are reluctant to invest in assets and institutional building because these costs are administrative. This means that LEMU is depreciating most of its current assets and is not replacing them. LEMU may therefore prioritize getting funds only from development partners who consider asset and institutional building. 14

16 5. Board Members: LEMU is confidently operating under the supervision of highly respected and experienced Members of the Board of Directors. Their supervisory role has steered LEMU towards success and enabled LEMU to become an authority in land issues in Uganda. We are proud to share the profiles of our individual Members of the Board of Directors as below; Rosemary Awino Kaduru, Chairperson Board of Directors - LEMU. She is a lawyer by profession with masters in Social development and planning. She has management experience in rights based approaches, social development with over 20 years experience in leadership positions with International development and humanitarian organizations in East and West Africa. She has worked for Oxfam GB in senior positions for about 15 years in Kenya, Uganda, Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria as country director or deputy country director responsible for strategic planning, program management and financial budgeting and financial management. She also worked for other organizations such as African Prisons project and Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) in Uganda. Rosemary has carried out research and written several reports and papers for Government and the Donor community with key areas such as Gender, oil and agriculture. Max Alfred Anyuru, Vice Chairperson Board of Directors - LEMU. Max Alfred Anyuru is a social sector specialist with over 20 years of experience 12 of which have been spent as a development consultant. Currently he works as a Senior Consultant at the Centre for Innovative Programs (CIP Consult Uganda) and he is affiliated to a number of international consulting firms including Social Development Direct UK, Oxford Policy Management UK and ARS Asprogetti Italy. Max has consulted for a number of development organisations including United Nations agencies, multilateral and bilateral agencies, governments, and civil society organizations. Although with a bias in research and monitoring and evaluation, he has consulted on wide range of issues including livelihoods development, post-conflict recovery reconstruction and development, disaster risk reduction and early warning, and governance among others. Max holds a Postgraduate Degree in Social Sector Planning and Management (MUK), Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation (UMI), Postgraduate Diploma in Development and Management of Small Businesses and Industries from the Galilee College Israel, and Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Social Administration (MUK). He is currently pursuing a Master of Management Studies majoring in Monitoring and Evaluation at UMI. 15

17 He has also undergone a number of specialized training including Board Management and has served as director on a number of boards. Currently he also serves on the Boards of CPAR Uganda and Community Development Resources Network (CDRN) Joyce Namirimo Tamale, Treasurer to Board of Directors - LEMU. She (FCCA, CPA) is an accountant by profession, has lectured, regulated and practiced accounting, auditing and finance for close to 15 years. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Accounting Major) of Makerere University, Kampala; a Post-Graduate Diploma in Development Finance (PGDip. Dev.Fin) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) both of the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI). She is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) of the United Kingdom and also a full member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPA-U). She is a Certified Financial management and Organizational development Trainer (Mango UK). She is the CEO of Uganda Health Marketing Group (UMHG) a USAID funded Organization which she set systems since its inception to a reputable Organization of its kind. Joyce has held senior positions in a number of NGOs local, regional and international in setting financial management systems, developing strategic and business plans and strengthening internal control systems and Human Resources. She has worked with Price water house coopers as an auditor and she also manages her own financial management consultancy for the last 5 years. She has served on a number of key Boards of Directors in Uganda. She is the Treasurer for the Institute for Social Transformation and Land and Equity Movement in Uganda. She is a Board member of, Forum for Women in Development, Akina mama wa Africa and the Chairperson of the ACCA Member s social network Panel, She is the Chairperson of the Luzira Alliance SACCO which has a membership of over 2,000 members. She founded the Centre for Enterprise Training which builds capacity of youth in acquiring entrepreneurship skills to save on unemployment. Amajuru Simon Madraru, Member Board of Directors LEMU. Simon is a hardworking and self supervised holder of M.A (International Human Rights), a postgraduate Diploma in Education, a Bachelor in Economics and Geography and holds certificates in project planning and Management and participatory Rural Appraisal. He also holds an award from Ford Foundation. He has accomplolished various consultancies with both National and international organizations that involves tasks in Agriculture, Livelihood programs, community empowerment. These organizations include OXFAM, War Child Holland, Care international and Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD). 16

18 Mahmood Mamdani, Member Board of Directors LEMU. Mahmood is professor and executive director of Makerere Institute of Social Research at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, and the Herbert Lehman Professor of Government and professor of Anthropology, African Studies and Political Science at Columbia University, New York. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1974 and specializes in a comparative study of colonialism since 1452, and the following themes in particular: custom and customary law, civil war and mass violence, and the politics of knowledge production. Mamdani has taught at the University of Dares-Salaam in Tanzania ( ), Makerere University in Uganda ( ), and the University of Cape Town ( ). Mahmood Mamdani was listed as one of the Top 20 Public Intellectuals by Foreign Policy (US) and Prospect (UK) magazine in He served as President of CODESRIA (Council for the Development of Social Research in Africa) from 1998 to He also delivered the prestigious Du Bois lectures at Harvard in He is the recipient of honorary doctorates from Addis Ababa university (2010) and the University of Johannesburg (2010). He received the Lenfest Columbia Distinguished Faculty Award (2011) and was the Chair of the prestigious Aga Khan Architectural Award Jury ( ). Mamdani has written extensively on colonialism and post-colonialism. Among these are several books: Define and Rule: Native as Political Identity, 2013; Citizen and Subject: Contemporary Africa and the Legacy of Late Colonialism, 1996); Saviors and Survivors: Darfur, Politics, and the War on Terror, 2009; Good Muslim, Bad Muslim: America, the Cold War and the Roots of Terror, 2004; and Rwanda (When Victims Become Killers: Colonialism, Nativism and Genocide in Rwanda, 2001). Citizen and Subject was awarded the Herskovitz Prize of the African Studies Association of the U.S. for the best book in English in African Studies published in It received the best book prize at the University of Cape Town in 1999 and was acclaimed as one of the hundred best books on Africa written in the 20 th century at the Cape Town Book Fair in Mamdani was Chair of the National Commission of Inquiry into Local Government in Uganda in , founder of Centre for Basic Research in Kampala (1987), and founding Chairperson of the Asian African Association of Uganda (2013). He is currently a member of the African Union-appointed five-person Commission of Inquiry into Mass Violence in South Sudan. Prof. Pascal Odoch Wathum, Member Board of Directors LEMU. Pascal Odoch, a PhD. Scholar funded by International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ottawa, Canada. At international level, Dr. Odoch who is a Visiting Professor at the University of Lusaka, Zambia since 2014, has been at the fore-front of the crusade on socio-economic transformation in Eastern and Southern Africa. He has mostly driven this fight through his Greenstar International Ltd a Consultancy firm where he is the Managing Director. 17

19 He is an accomplished and seasoned community economic development expert, having wide and cumulative international and regional experience spanning over 15 years. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics and Social Administration of Makerere University; a Post Graduate Diploma in Community Economic Development from Simon Fraser University, Canada, a Masters in Adult Education and a PhD in Education from the University of British Columbia, Canada. On a national level he has worked with various sectors that include but not limited to National planning and Economic Development, Disaster preparedness and refugees, Local Government and Gender and Social Development in which he has played a tremendous role in planning, budgeting and formulating policies. He has trained various Local Governments in Financial management and related practices and has also held key positions in the Country such as representing Padyere county constituency, Nebbi district as a Member of Parliament of the republic of Uganda. As a PHD Scholar, he has presented over 11 concept papers and many publications. Furthermore he has participated in a number of research projects with over 10 unpublished research works. John De Coninck, Member Board of Directors LEMU. Currently works at the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda, a research and advocacy Ugandan organisation, promoting a culturally-sensitive approach to development issues. He has a professional experience dating back more than 30 years, much of it acquired in Uganda, working at Makerere University, then for a variety of international and local nongovernmental organisations. He is currently also undertaking freelance consultancy work and writing.he has published materials in a number of areas related to Civil Society development in the region. He has also been actively involved in a number of research initiatives on poverty reduction. He holds a PhD from Sussex University in the UK. 18

20 6. Donors / Development Partners that supported LEMU s work in LEMU gives special recognition and thanks to the following donor partners with whose support LEMU was able to achieve her objectives and fulfill the expectations of communities in Lango, Teso, Acholi, Westnile and Karamoja in International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is recognized for funding the research project to enable LEMU investigate the impact of community land protection to the livelihoods of the communities and compare the contribution of state Vs traditional justice systems to the improvement of land justice. This project will cover Lango and Teso regions from 2014 to 2017 and during this period LEMU will be able to investigate the impact of community land protection in more than 100 communities and review the contribution of state Vs traditional systems through more than 2,000 cases. NAMATI is highly appreciated for their technical and financial support to LEMU towards the community land protection in Lango sub-region. LEMU s partnership with Namati since 2012 has improved the security of more than 70 community lands and wetlands in Lango sub-region especially in Oyam, Amolatar, Apac and Kole districts. Through Namati, LEMU was able to establish the Lira field office for community land protection and jointly author key publications and research reports to guide other actors implementing community land protection programs around the World. USAID SAFE supports LEMU s community land protection project in Lira district. From January 2014, LEMU was able to facilitate 3 communities from introduction of the project through the stage of visioning, writing rules and creating strategies for resolution of land conflicts among the community members. LEMU also printed relevant publications and strengthened the Lango Wetland taskforce for a reduction in the levels of wetland encroachment and degradation. Trocaire (with UKAID Match Fund): Without the funding support from Trocaire, LEMU would not have been able to implement the National land policy 2013, and facilitate the registration of clan in Teso in partnership with Iteso Cultural Union. LEMU s partnership with Trocaire for the past 6 years has tremendously contributed to the strengthening of the customary lands governance roles and responsibilities in Lango, Teso and Acholi sub-regions. Besides the funding support, LEMU appreciated Trocaire for initiating and keeping interest of many NGOs to participate in the Northern Uganda Land Platform a forum for sharing land rights issues for improving interventions of land rights NGOs in Northern Uganda. Anonymous: We would like to honor the contribution of the anonymous donor whose support has enabled LEMU to focus of protection of women s land rights in the North and Eastern Uganda. The continuous support to LEMU since 2010 has resulted to the documentation of customary laws (PPRR) for the Kumam and strengthening of state land justice institutions like the police and judiciary for the benefit of women. The funds extended to LEMU in 2014 enabled LEMU to extend her work ( documenting customary laws and compensations issues) to Bunyoro region where the oil activities has led to the vulnerability of many women. Finally LEMU not have been able to carry out the advocacy work around the CCO implementation and loans research with banks with the aim of improving women s land rights security. 19

21 The Alistair Berkley Charitable Trust -UK: We treasure the long partnership with since 2005 especially the seed grant which has enabled LEMU to grow in scope, funding, knowledge/expertise, staffing, impact and the wider movement of individuals and institutions committed to protect land rights in Uganda. We also appreciate the continuous support towards the management of LEMU s website since CORDAID: Although the six (6) years partnership between LEMU and Cordaid ended in 2013, LEMU continues to build on the past work and to document the impacts being attained. With the funding from Cordaid, LEMU laid a foundation from implementation of 1995 Uganda Constitution and the 1998 Land provisions for the customary land tenure. LEMU began partnerships with traditional institutions in Lango, Teso and Acholi and worked for five (5) years to have the customary land laws the PPRR books documented, disseminated and implemented to protect the land rights of vulnerable individuals in Uganda. International Centre for Research on Women: LEMU received technical training in monitoring and evaluation for LEMU M&E and other staff. The skills attained enabled LEMU to improve the data collection tools and analysis of data to track the achievement of program contributions especially in areas of interventions on women s land rights. The funding partnership ended in June 2014 but LEMU staff are applying some of the key M&E skills and resources learnt during the project to improve the way project impacts are tracked. Conclusion: LEMU continues to grow in geographical areas of operations, in ideas, in reputation, in number of staff employed, and funding but faces resistance from the institutions and individuals who believe that Customary Land Tenure is backward and must be phased out. LEMU constantly endeavors to communicate through publications what causes land rights vulnerability under customary tenure and proposes solutions to overcome them but few and mostly non Ugandans read these publications as many Ugandans do not read and therefore may not correctly analyze the issues based on information and reality but biases cultivated by the Economic Theories against Customary Tenure over the years. 20

22 2014 Uganda LEMU & Namati supports ion laws claims. munities sources change. Community Guide: How to Protect Your Community s Lands & Resources edicated and to d defend nizations nts, and address ty legal closing lling the services to local An Illustration of a Community Land in Lango Sub - Region COMMUNITY GUIDE How to Protect Your Community s Lands & Resources The Land and Equity Movement in Uganda (LEMU) & Namati 2014 Uganda L E M U Land and Equity Movement in Uganda (LEMU) Making land work for us all CSO to plement entation; tections ts. LEMU - Kampala LEMU - Soroti LEMU - Apac LEMU - Lira Plot 6A Sunderland Avenue, Mbuya Plot 1, Etyeku Road - Soroti Municipality Plot 9, Odora Lane Plot 50 - Ogwal Ajungu Road. P.O. Box 23722, Kampala (Uganda) Tel : +256 (0) Mob : +256 (0) info@land-in-uganda.org Off Mbale Road Pamba, P.O. Box 23722, Kampala (Uganda) Tel : +256 (0) Soroti@land-in-uganda.org P.O. Box 12, Apac (Uganda) Adyel Division, Lira Municipality. Land and P.O. Box 1066, Lira (Uganda) Equity Movement M U : +256(LEMU) (0) Uganda Apac@land-in-uganda.org in Tel Tel : +256 (0) L E for Lira@land-in-uganda.org Making land work us all