Effects of land conflict on the socio-economic well-being of women in Katakwi district; case study: Omodoi sub-county

Abstract

Over 80% of the populations in Uganda practice agriculture as their main source of income and women constitute 76% of agriculture labor force. Land is the main asset used by those engaged in agriculture. Thus land isvital in as far as the social and economic well-being of women in society is concerned. Not only land is a source of income through agriculture but also a basis for identity and status within a family and community.However, as of 2017, 33 to 50% of landholders in the country are affected by land conflicts and these conflicts are related to competing claims for land use and ownership. The rash for its possession has made land become the center of controversy and conflict in the community. Worst still it leaves the livelihood of women who use land as their source of well-being at stake. This study comes against this backgroundand it particularly examinedthe effects of land conflicts on the socioeconomic wellbeing of women in Omodoi sub county Katakwi district. It specifically identified the forms and categories of land conflicts, establishedhow land ownership affects the income and wellbeing of women, examined the contribution of land access and utilization to health and educational wellbeing of womenandestablished how land inheritance practices affects the quality of life of women. The study employed qualitative research approach and a case study design throughout the research process. In this study,a selected population from three parishes in six villages of Omodoi sub-county. The sample size of 85 people was considered purposively and through simple random sampling.Key informant interview and focus group discussion were used to collect data which was thematically analyzed to generate the needed information for this study. The study revealed that the most common forms of land conflicts within the area were land grabbing, boundary conflicts, neighborhood conflict, grazing conflict and boundary conflict. Land ownership greatly affected the income and wellbeing of Womenbecause many of them did not have access to land, a situation that limited them from engaging in agricultural activities. Land conflicts affected women’s access to land and this greatly affected their health and education wellbeing. Besides land inheritance practices do not favor women as it accords more opportunity of owning land to men than to women in the community. Conclusively,the findings revealed that land conflicts in Omodoi sub-county Katakwi district are as a result of land grabbing, boundary conflicts, neighborhood conflict, grazing conflict, boundary conflictshad affected the wellbeing of women. Culture and patriarchy greatly reproduce the subordination of women and this greatly limits their productive capacity with the 76% labour force left to waste. Thestudy recommends the following: the need to intensify rights activism and campaign on sensitizing women on their rights over land. The government through the parliament should enact or quicken the passing of the domestic laws which empower women to acquire land. The clans should appoint heads with some knowledge about equality land rights. Sensitization of the local leaders with the human rights laws. The parents should write their will when alive and they should put in consideration the girl child rights. The courts should expeditiously handle land related cases within time. Once land cases are resolved in time. There would be less land related conflicts.