In a landmark stride towards economic empowerment and gender equality, Uganda Women in Trade and Manufacturing Association (UWTMA) has handed over 80 land titles to women, in Luwero, under its savings-based land acquisition initiative.
The association, led by Julian Nyabuhara, purchased 12 acres of land in Luwero District at a cost of shs180 million and partitioned it into 80 plots.
These were officially handed over to the first group of beneficiaries during a ceremony that symbolized a significant breakthrough in women’s access to land ownership in Uganda.
"This project was born out of the pressing reality that many Ugandan women remain marginalized when it comes to owning land," she said.
She added that when women go to financial institutions seeking loans, they are often turned away because they lack collateral. And the collateral they ask for (land with a title), is something many women simply don’t have.
Nyabuhara explained that cultural norms and systemic barriers often deny women the right to own land, both in their parental homes and their marriages.
"A father tells his daughter she doesn’t own land, and when she marries, her husband says his land is for his children," she said.
To counter this, the association encouraged women to form savings groups, contributing as little as shs10,000 a day, and over time, this collective effort grew, allowing the group to not only purchase land but also process and issue land titles, a process many individual women struggle to navigate.
"What we are witnessing today is a big achievement. It’s proof that with unity and a shared vision, small savings can lead to life-changing milestones," Nyabuhara added. "Our goal is to ensure at least 40% of land in Uganda is owned by women. Land is not just property, it’s power, security, and opportunity."
Barbra Nuwagira, one of the project beneficiaries, shared her experience.
"I joined the initiative in December 2022. As a mother of four, I managed to save enough to acquire four plots, one for each of my children. One of them dreams of becoming a farmer, and I wanted to support that vision."
The initiative, driven entirely by voluntary efforts, also benefited from investment partnerships.
According to Nyabuhara, profits earned from a group savings account with UAP Unity Trust were reinvested into land acquisition and title processing, helping to ease costs for members.
Carolyn Namukhula and Diana Nambi played a key role in supporting UWTMA CEO by ensuring that the women's savings were securely managed and by assisting in the search for suitable land, contributing to the smooth execution of the entire process.
With the 80 women that have so far benefited from the program, the second cohort targets 200 women. The association is now working toward an ambitious target of handing over land titles to at least 500 women.
The Luwero land project stands as a testament to the power of collective effort, vision, and the unyielding determination of women to change their destiny, one plot at a time.