By Witness Radio team.

During the 9th National Land Awareness Week, a campaign aimed at educating communities on their land rights and promoting sustainable land use in Eastern Uganda, Land actors unveiled shocking realities. Local communities revealed that the issue of escalating land grabbing in Sebei and Bugisu was a potential trigger for violent conflict if left unresolved.

The 5-day-long activity, held under the theme “Promoting Land Rights and Sustainable Land Use for Inclusive and Sustainable Development,” created opportunities for engagement with farming communities, local governments, and customary landowners. However, the stories that emerged were filled with tales of dispossession, impunity, and betrayal, with influential individuals and state agencies involved in serious violations and abuses that have continued to fuel conflict, insecurity, and suffering in rural areas.

Lwanga Deborah Marie, who works with ActionAid International Uganda and is one of the experts who participated in the campaign, noted that it has become alarmingly easy for politically connected individuals to take land from impoverished communities.

“Many community members, the have-nots, are the majority. The haves are the minority. But there have been a lot of stories, a lot of testimonies coming in from the community regarding people with power, people with money, people with connections, coming in to displace the vast majority of the communities and go ahead to get titles, land titles to land on which community members are staying.”

In Kween district, sub-counties such as Ngenge, Ngiriki, and Chepsukunya were cited as hotspots. Experts warned that this unchecked pattern of elite-driven land grabbing could spark instability. “It is a ticking time bomb. If it is not addressed, there are fears it could cause bloodshed,” Deborah cautioned.

The experts also uncovered allegations of violent evictions by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), which has displaced ancestral communities in the name of conservation. Reports gathered during the campaign pointed to killings, injuries, destruction of crops, and illegal detentions carried out during UWA’s operations.

“We received reports of people shot at and killed, and those shot and injured. We actually met individuals with their stories and medical records regarding these UWA violations and the destruction of food crops,” Deborah recounted.

Such behavior is deemed inhumane and violates people’s human rights, as Deborah explained.

“And this violates not only the right to food but also the right to life. It violates the right to be free from cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. The situation is unacceptable. There have been reports of illegal detentions by UWA. These have been one of the troubling revelations during our interactions with community members,” she said.

One community in Kapkwata, commonly referred to as Rwanda village, was forced off its ancestral land to create space for the Kapkwata forest reserve. Since eviction, the residents have been living in what experts likened to an internally displaced persons’ camp—without toilets, health facilities, or farmland. Their demand, as experts relayed, is not charity but justice: an alternative land to rebuild their lives.

The activity also revealed a disturbing pattern of gender discrimination in land ownership. According to these experts, they noted that even when women contribute money toward purchasing land, they are not recognized as co-owners but merely as “witnesses.”

“The bigger picture of their rights being violated is their land rights,” Deborah explained. “We heard testimonies of women contributing money towards land purchases, but they didn’t appear as co-owners. They only appeared as witnesses.” Experts warned that these practices not only deny women economic security but also perpetuate cycles of marginalization across generations.

Byantalo Hassan Abdallah, an officer from the Ministry of Lands, acknowledged government shortcomings. He admitted that communities evicted by UWA have been waiting in vain for resettlement for years, despite repeated promises of assistance. “The government has promised several times to resettle them, but this has not come to pass,” he said.

While some displaced families have been moved to Bulambuli district under interventions by the Office of the Prime Minister, communities like Rwanda remain in limbo. But Byantalo says the government and the Ministry are working hard to resettle this community.

“During the discussions that we had on the ground, especially with the communities in Rwanda, they clearly stated to us that officials from the Ministry of Land and Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) came and visited them and told them they were trying to secure some piece of land on which these people are yet to be resettled. So, the government is not seated, the Ministry of Land is working with other government agencies and ministries.” Byantalo expressed

Other structural challenges were identified, including land registration costs, which continue to prevent people from accessing formal protection. The experts also pointed to dysfunctional Area Land Committees, many of whose members confessed ignorance of their roles, thereby worsening disputes instead of resolving them.

Experts involved in the campaign called for significant reforms and follow-ups. They urged the government to prioritize resettling displaced communities fairly and with dignity, making land registration more affordable and transparent, providing widespread education to dispel myths about customary titles, and training Area Land Committees to perform their roles effectively.

They also emphasized the need to protect women’s land rights and close gender gaps in ownership, while holding state agencies, such as UWA, accountable for human rights abuses.

Christine Nabunya, a lawyer and land rights advocate, summed up the call: “We need more empowerment and sensitization of communities. Most people believe they don’t have the right to land, especially women. That is really absurd.”

As the Awareness Week concluded with a roundtable discussion, the experts unanimously agreed: the land grabbing in Sebei and Bugisu is not just a matter of property; it’s a matter of justice, survival, and peace. The stark injustice of these land issues should stir a sense of moral outrage, compelling us to work towards a fair and equitable resolution.

If the escalating land grabbing, compounded by violent state-backed evictions, is not addressed, the region could be plunged into deeper conflict. For farming communities, land is not just an asset but the foundation of food security and livelihoods. Losing it, experts warn, means losing the future. This potential for deeper conflict should underscore the gravity of the situation.

“The communities are crying out not for aid, but for justice,” Deborah said. “If we fail to act, we risk a crisis that will be far costlier to solve.” The resilience of these communities in the face of such adversity is truly inspiring.

By Witness Radio team.

Uganda will celebrate the 5th National Tree Planting Day (NTPD) on Friday, 3rd October 2025, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to combat deforestation and restore its natural environment. This day marks the culmination of the annual Running Out of Trees (ROOTs) campaign, led by the Ministry of Water and Environment, along with its partners.

This year’s event will take place at Busoga College Mwiri in Jinja District, Busoga Sub-Region, bringing together government institutions, private sector players, cultural and religious leaders, schools, and local communities under a shared mission to restore Uganda’s forests.

Since 1990, Uganda’s forest cover has decreased from 24% to just 12.2% in 2023. This decline is due to deforestation, land conversion, and population growth. The impacts, including degraded soils, reduced biodiversity, water shortages, and increased climate extremes like floods and droughts, are being felt across the nation.

The ROOTs campaign was launched to reverse this trend, and this year, the target is to plant 40 million trees, with the expectation that each Ugandan will plant at least one tree. This year’s theme, “Revive, Restore, Sustain: Indigenous Species for Uganda’s Future,” highlights the urgent need to protect and replant native trees, which are essential for biodiversity, soil fertility, and climate resilience.

Launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) through the Forestry Sector Support Department (FSSD), the ROOTs campaign collaborates with private sector partners, development partners, and civil society organizations. It began at the 2014 Climate Change Summit, where Uganda committed to restoring 2.5 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

Over the years, the campaign has achieved significant milestones. For example, in 2023, partners planted 20,480,357 tree seedlings, and over 12,000,000 seedlings were planted in 2021. However, the goal of 40 million has not yet been met. Organizers, including the Ministry of Water and Environment and Environmental Alert, are optimistic about reaching the target this year.

This year’s event is to be celebrated in the Busoga sub-region. The region was selected because it has experienced significant environmental degradation, which has impacted its ecosystem and productivity. Hosting the 2025 NTPD at Busoga College Mwiri, which was founded in 1911 on a previously forested hill, is symbolic. The event will not only restore Mwiri Hill but will also expand efforts to Wanyange Hill and the Kyabazinga’s Igenge Hill, focusing on planting indigenous trees to restore ecological balance.

“Looking at the Busoga region, we all know that in the 1960s and 1970s, Busoga was actually one of the food baskets for the country, and at this peak today, the region is highly degraded. We have environmental degradation, affecting both the ecosystem and land productivity, which is likely due to the large-scale opening up of the ecosystem for monoculture sugarcane farming. So, the region is under stress from climate change, largely due to environmental degradation.” Senior Forest Officer at the Ministry of Water and Environment, Ms Irene Nanyondo, told the Witness Radio team.

Further, Nanyondo added that these communities are also facing food insecurity and a host of other challenges stemming from degraded ecosystems, which was the reason the campaign was held there. “So, we want to go there, because the root campaign is also about creating massive awareness on issues of environmental conservation. So, we want to go and speak to the people of Busoga about the current status of the region, and how we can restore this region.”

Leading up to the main event, the Mwiri Old Boys Association (MOBA) will organize a week-long Homecoming Program from September 27 to October 3. The theme will be “Road Safety and Environment Awareness.” Activities will include walks from Kampala, Mukono, Jinja, and Mwiri Primary School, with tree planting along the routes. There will be community clean-ups in Iganga and Jinja, as well as radio talk shows to raise awareness about deforestation and the importance of tree planting and soil conservation.

The NTPD will bring together thousands of Ugandans to plant 40,000 indigenous tree seedlings at Busoga College Mwiri, complemented by an additional 10,000 seedlings planted during Homecoming Week. In total, 50,000 trees will be planted and geo-mapped as part of this year’s drive.

Expected outcomes include raising awareness among communities and schools about the importance of planting and caring for trees. The campaign will also promote Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) and sustainable land management practices, leading to improved soil fertility and increased biodiversity. Additionally, a digital Monitoring, Verification, and Reporting (MVR) system will be developed and implemented to track restoration efforts, aiming for at least 80% stakeholder participation in monitoring and reporting progress.

The ROOTs campaign is not just about planting trees; it’s a national movement for environmental stewardship. Witness Radio joins the government and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in calling upon every Ugandan to participate, whether by planting a tree, nurturing one, or spreading the message of ecological conservation. Your participation is crucial for the success of this initiative.

On October 3, 2025, let’s come together at Busoga College Mwiri and across the country to secure a greener, healthier, and more resilient Uganda for future generations. Witness Radio will be on the ground to provide live updates, stories, and voices from the celebrations, highlighting the hope and restoration that this campaign represents. Together, we can make a significant difference in our environment.

By Witness Radio team.

Agriculture, a cornerstone of livelihoods and economies throughout the East African Community (EAC), is now at a crossroads. The laws about seeds, once straightforward, have evolved into a complex web that now decides who controls food systems, how fair they are, and whether biodiversity and farmers’ rights are protected.

The draft Bill, as seen by Witness Radio, aims to provide for the coordination of evaluation, release, and registration of plant varieties among Partner States; to establish standard processes for seed certification and the protection of plant varieties within the Community; and to provide for related matters. According to its promoters, the Bill, based on Article 106 of the East African Community Treaty, aims to provide for seed certification, testing, and marketing, thereby facilitating and creating an enabling environment for private sector seed multiplication and distribution.

Advocates view it as a step toward regional integration, improved food security, and increased trade —a potential boon for the region. However, experts, civil society organizations (CSOs), and smallholder farmers believe the Bill contains many problems that could harm the very people who feed the majority of East Africans.

While the Bill may seem like a technical regulation, experts argue that it actually concerns control over food systems, farmers’ rights, and agricultural diversity. At a recent discussion hosted by civil society organizations and farmer groups in East Africa, panelists participated in a two-hour dialogue titled “The EAC Seed and Plant Varieties Bill, 2025: What is at Stake for Smallholder Farmers?” The event, organized by a Kenyan Seed Savers Network and its partners, highlighted concerns that the Bill favors commercial seed systems while neglecting those managed by farmers.

One of the most criticized aspects of the Bill is its reliance on the Distinct, Uniform, and Stable (DUS) criteria for seed release. Experts say these standards benefit uniform commercial seed varieties but often exclude diverse and adaptable indigenous or farmer-managed seeds. For instance, Tanzania’s Quality Declared Seed (QDS) system allows farmers to produce seeds without facing costly testing requirements. Dr. Peter Munyi, an advocate and agricultural legal expert, warns that if the EAC Bill is approved as it stands, such flexible systems could be compromised.

“It’s very dismissive of small-scale farmers and farmer seed systems because it has a very typical approach to the seed law of its variety release system, its certification system. The variety release requires seed to be consistent with DUS requirements, which are very expensive. Only commercial seed breeders or well-funded research institutions can really afford these tests.”

According to Dr. Munyi, this is a deliberate move to disengage smallholder farmers from the agricultural sector, despite their significant contribution to producing most of the World’s food. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)’s 2021 research, smallholder farmers account for more than 80 percent of the World’s food.

“The law is crafted in such a way that it locks smallholder farmers out of the seed system. When you require laboratory testing and multi-location trials, you’re effectively saying only big companies and donors can participate.”

The Seeds and Plant Varieties Bill closely mirrors a 2018 USAID-backed draft, which also faced criticism for advancing commercial interests at the expense of traditional systems.

“Both the 2018 Bill and the current Bill are discriminatory and inequitable in their approach because they don’t treat all farmers and all seed in the same way,” said Mariam Mayet, Executive Director of the African Center for Biodiversity.

She explained that the bias is intentional as the Bill aims to support commercial seed systems and create markets for multinational seed companies.

“It is not designed to strengthen food security or protect the rights of farmers who feed most of the population.” Mayet warned, adding that, “Once this Bill is passed, farmer-managed seed systems will be further criminalized and marginalized. This Bill takes that repression to a regional level.”

The Bill also introduces uncertainty around plant breeders’ rights. According to Dr. Kabanda David of the Center for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CEFROHT), the draft law is vague on the scope of these rights. It does not explicitly guarantee farmers’ long-standing ability to save, reuse, exchange, or sell protected seeds. Without such exceptions, smallholder farmers could be criminalized for traditional practices.

The Seeds and Plant Varieties Bill, 2025, may appear to be a step toward regional integration, but experts warn that it is dangerously skewed toward corporate seed systems. Left unchanged, it could deepen inequality, erode biodiversity, and undermine food sovereignty for millions of East Africans.

Experts, CSOs, and farmer groups insist that if the Bill is to proceed, it must provide explicit protections for farmers’ rights, including saving, exchanging, and selling seed, recognize and strengthen farmer-managed seed systems through a parallel legal framework or supportive policies, and guarantee meaningful participation of farmers and local communities in shaping seed regulations.