Uganda has launched a three year initiative to strengthen food systems and protect farming and pastoral communities from the growing effects of climate change, with Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba warning that insecure land rights could undermine the country’s efforts to achieve sustainable food security.
The Accelerating Food Systems Transformation for Resilience to Climate Change in Africa project was launched on August 6 during a national inception workshop held at Protea Hotel in Entebbe.
The initiative, supported by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and other development partners, will focus on strengthening land governance and addressing vulnerabilities affecting Uganda’s agricultural and livestock sectors.
Nabakooba said climate change is increasingly threatening livelihoods, food production and economic growth through prolonged droughts, floods, land degradation and conflicts over natural resources.
“Resilient food systems require secure land rights, reliable climate information, sound policies and strong institutions working together,” Nabakooba said.
She said Uganda cannot build resilient food systems by concentrating only on agricultural production without addressing how land is owned, accessed, managed and administered.
Millions of Ugandans depend directly or indirectly on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods, making land governance a critical component of food security and climate adaptation.
Nabakooba said secure land tenure gives farmers and other land users confidence to make long term investments in their land, improve productivity and adopt practices that can help communities withstand climate related shocks.
She said secure land rights can also reduce land related disputes and create an environment in which communities, farmers and investors can plan for the future.
“The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development joined this initiative because effective land governance is fundamental to sustainable development and climate adaptation,” Nabakooba said.
“Our ministry continues to advance reforms that improve land administration, promote responsible land management and enhance access to land information.”
“These efforts are essential for protecting land rights while supporting agricultural transformation, climate resilience and sustainable investment,” she added.
The project will assess four key areas, including land tenure security, livestock value chains, index based livestock insurance and climate land information systems.
The assessments are expected to provide evidence that can guide policy reforms, shape investments and strengthen Uganda’s response to climate change and vulnerabilities within the food system.
The focus on livestock is particularly significant for pastoral and livestock keeping communities that remain highly exposed to droughts, pasture shortages and other climate related shocks.
The project will also examine the potential of index based livestock insurance as a mechanism for helping farmers and pastoralists manage financial losses associated with climate related risks.
Improved climate and land information systems are expected to support better planning and decision making by providing reliable evidence on the relationship between changing weather patterns, land use and agricultural production.
Nabakooba urged stakeholders implementing the project to ensure that its recommendations reflect Uganda’s realities and address challenges experienced by communities on the ground.
She called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, local authorities, research organisations, development partners, civil society and the private sector to ensure the project produces meaningful results.
Nabakooba cautioned against implementing programmes that generate reports without translating their findings into practical action.
“The findings from this project should not remain on paper. They should inform better policies, guide future investments and strengthen decision making at both national and local levels,” she said.
The government is expected to work with development partners throughout the three year implementation period, with the programme prioritising stronger land tenure security, improved access to climate and land information, institutional capacity building and evidence based policymaking.
The initiative comes as Uganda faces increasing pressure on its land and natural resources amid changing weather patterns, population growth and rising demand for agricultural land.
For the Lands Ministry, strengthening land governance is therefore not only a matter of protecting property rights but also an important part of safeguarding agricultural production, supporting rural livelihoods and building resilience against climate change.
Nabakooba said the project provides an opportunity to bring land governance closer to the centre of Uganda’s climate change and food security agenda and ensure that communities dependent on agriculture and livestock are better prepared to withstand future climate shocks.
