The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, on Wednesday presided over the closing of the African Pastoralist Women Gathering and officially launched the African Rangelands and Pastoralists Women Charter at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
The event, held under the theme “Voices from the Rangelands: African Pastoralist Women Rising for Land Rights,” brought together more than 200 participants, including grassroots pastoralist women, government officials, and civil society organisations from across the continent.
Speaking at the gathering, Among emphasised the indispensable role of women in pastoralism, noting that they are often overlooked in discussions on rangelands and livestock management.
“Oftentimes, discussions of rangelands and pastoralism in Africa focus mainly on men, yet the story is incomplete without women. I commend the organisers for highlighting the central, indivisible role of women in pastoralism through this historic gathering,” she said.
Among conveyed greetings from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who expressed full support for the initiative. She also lauded the Government of Uganda for instituting policies and regulatory frameworks that safeguard pastoralism, including the National Land Policy and the National Climate Change Act 2021.
She pointed to ongoing efforts to promote peace in rangelands, including disarmament in the Karamoja sub-region and cross-border collaboration with Kenya to combat livestock raids, noting that such measures have contributed to a reduction in cattle theft.
“This gathering is crucial for strengthening the voices of female pastoralists and ensuring their perspectives are included in decisions that impact their lives. I speak not just as Speaker of Parliament but as a pastoralist woman myself – I have cattle, and these issues are deeply personal,” she said.
The gathering drew participants from across Northern, Sub-Saharan, West, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa, including countries such as Benin, Cameroon, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Attendees included leaders, grassroots pastoralist women, and civil society organisations working on gender justice, climate resilience, and land governance.
Among also recognised the support of partners and funders, including GIZ, NIATERO, ACC, FAO, ILC, NLC Uganda, Reconcile, Impact Kenya, and WHH.
Uganda’s rangelands cover about 44 percent of the country’s 241,038 square kilometres, supporting a population of more than 6.6 million people.
These areas form part of the “Cattle Corridor,” stretching from the north-eastern border with Kenya and South Sudan to the south-western border with Tanzania.
Pastoralist women play critical but often under-recognised roles in animal care, food production, household resilience, and peacebuilding.
The gathering provided a platform for participants to share experiences and explore opportunities in value addition, cultural preservation, and livelihood diversification.
Key themes included women’s leadership and agency, gender-responsive policies, land rights and tenure security, climate resilience, and the recognition of pastoral mobility as a basic right.
Among highlighted persistent challenges facing pastoral communities, including land grabbing, conversion of grazing land into farmland and infrastructure, declining food and nutrition security, limited veterinary services, and the effects of climate variability on traditional livelihoods.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for pastoralism, particularly for women, and addressing the impacts of climate change on rangelands.
“Urgent, inclusive, and sustainable interventions are essential to protect pastoralist livelihoods, ensure climate resilience, and strengthen women’s participation in leadership and decision-making,” she said.
The African Pastoralist Women Gathering marks a significant step in advancing recognition and empowerment of women in pastoral communities across Africa, reinforcing the importance of collective action under the philosophy of Ubuntu.
