Stella Rose Akutui & Adrine Atwiine

Uganda’s Mailo land tenure system continues to generate landlord–tenant tensions, largely centered on the payment of Busuulu (nominal ground rent). In Gomba and Mityana districts, rising complaints of absentee landlords and refusal to accept legally prescribed Busuulu have increased tenure insecurity for tenants and contributed to persistent land disputes. The Constitution of Uganda (1995) recognizes Mailo tenure under Article 237(2) and protects lawful occupants from arbitrary eviction under...

Land in Uganda remains one of the most politically and socially charged assets, shaping identity, belonging, livelihoods, and economic security for most small-scale farmers. Yet, despite the centrality of land to national development, Uganda continues to grapple with persistent land conflicts underpinned by cultural norms, weak legal literacy, corruption, and inadequate formal documentation. For rural women in particular, these challenges are intensified by the complex relationship between...