The customary tenure system

Land in Uganda is a delicate topic. About 80% of pending court cases in the country today are land related. One of Uganda’s tenure systems is the management of land according to customary tenure, especially in Northern Uganda, including the Teso sub-region. With its violent history, a rising population and increasing impact of climate  change on agriculture productivity, land rights in Teso are contested to this day. Due to its violent history and socio-cultural changes, less than 1% of customary land is officially registered. This leads to uncertainties in land rights and hence to land conflicts. This report highlights the causes of land conflicts and the challenges hindering documentation of customary land in Uganda. In order to resolve conflicts, the RELAPU project and partners engage with local tenants to raise awareness, support the land administration in mapping and documenting customary land.