KIRYANDONGO, May 31, 2025 – Over 20 community-based Land and Environmental Defenders [CLEDs] from the Bunyoro sub-region have gained practical paralegal skills to promote awareness and protection of land and environmental rights in their communities.
The three-day training, recently held at Max Hotel in Kiryandongo district, was organised by Witness Radio, a non-governmental organisation, in collaboration with DanChurchAid Uganda [DCA] and the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in Uganda [NCHRD-U], with financial support from the European Union [EU].
The training was conducted under the project Monitoring, Documentation and Advocacy for Human Rights in Uganda [MDA-HRU].
According to Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebagala, a project official, the initiative is being implemented in the districts of Buliisa, Hoima, Masindi, Kiryandongo, Kikuube, Kagadi, Kibaale, Mubende, Moroto, Napak, Nakapiripirit, Namisindwa, Nabilatuk, Abim, Lamwo, Kotido, and Karenga.
“Since its launch in 2023, the project has trained 160 CLEDs in documenting land and environmental rights violations based on national human rights standards, referencing the Constitution of Uganda, the Land Act 1998, the National Land Policy 2013, and relevant environmental laws and policies,” said Ssebagala. “The aim is to empower CLEDs to support access to remedies using grassroots evidence, and to close gaps within the referral pathways for human rights defenders.”
Christopher Kiwanuka, Training Manager at Witness Radio, noted that the programme also seeks to enhance access to justice and promote legal empowerment in marginalised communities. “Community-based paralegals help identify barriers to justice and work towards bridging these gaps,” he said.
Following the training, a sustainable network of paralegals has been established to act as first responders to justice needs, contribute to the peaceful resolution of community-level disputes, and strengthen community monitoring of land, environmental, and human rights issues.
Participants received training in modules such as the role of a paralegal, legal frameworks, gender-based violence, legal problem-solving, court structures and jurisdiction, civil procedures, family law, inheritance and succession, land and property law, among others.
Bernard Mujuni, Commissioner for Equity and Rights in the Directorate of Social Protection at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, commended Witness Radio for the initiative, emphasising the importance of community empowerment.
“It is essential to empower communities to demand accountability from their leaders. Any development project must involve prior and informed consent. Communities should be consulted, encouraged to mediate on issues, and supported in whistleblowing as a means of safeguarding their rights,” Mujuni told the newly trained paralegals.
Laurianne Comard, the EU Programmes Manager, shared that during a recent meeting with Edith Aliguma, the LCV Chairperson of Kiryandongo district, she learned about the challenges of law enforcement in the area.
“I’m pleased that we are equipping paralegals to support law enforcement and access to justice. The provision of training manuals as reference materials is crucial for their continued impact,” Comard remarked.
At the close of the training, participants were awarded certificates in recognition of their newly acquired knowledge to address land rights and related legal challenges.
Several participants expressed appreciation to the organisers, saying the training had transformed their understanding and capacity to address legal issues from an informed perspective.
In Uganda, land rights are recognised under four tenure systems: customary, freehold, mailo, and leasehold. The Constitution vests land in the citizens of Uganda, and Article 26 [1] protects the right to own property. Customary tenure, the most prevalent, involves communal ownership with use rights for individuals or families.
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