By Spy Uganda
During the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Land Governance Program 1st Steering Committee Meeting of the Member States that was held in Entebbe from 1st to 2nd June 2022, it was agreed that Uganda hosts the Conference on Land and Conflict through its Ministry responsible for Land.
It’s against the above background that the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development is organizing a High-Level Conference on Land and Conflict in the East and Horn of Africa from the 24th to 28th of October 2022 in partnership with IGAD and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO).
Addressing the media on Thursday morning, Minister of Lands, Housing & Urban Development Judith Nalule Nabakooba revealed that the High-Level Conference on Land and Conflict will be held at Speke Resort Munyonyo, and graced by HE Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as the guest of honour.
Nabakooba said the other associated events in the Land and Conflict Conference include, the Bi-annual Conference of the International Association of Women Judges and the Annual East African Court of Justice Judiciaries Symposium, to be held at Speke Resort Munyonyo and Mestil Hotel respectively.
She noted that the overall objective of the Conference is to enable High-Level Policy Makers to exchange Country and cross-country policy experiences and lessons learned with a view to establishing a regional agenda and national policy priorities that comprehensively respond to land conflicts.
Meanwhile, other specific objectives of the Conference Nabakooba said are: to increase the body of available evidence and facilitate the exchange of views on the prevalence, causes, impacts and ways of addressing land conflict in the IGAD region and raise awareness around the importance of SDG 16 in addressing these in a comprehensive manner; and issue concrete and evidence-based recommendations to High-Level Policy Makers for
better management of land conflicts, enhancing peace, sustainable development, gender equality and climate change adaptation.
”To identify and share best practices and lessons learned in terms of management and resolution of disputes and conflict around land-based natural resources by judiciaries in EAC and IGAD region; and exchange thoughts and experiences as to the consultation or implication of judiciaries in the EAC and IGAD region in the development and implementation of legislative and policy frameworks affecting conflict around land-based natural resources,” she noted.
She further added that the sectoral Ministers Session will adopt an initial declaration that will provide the basis for the establishment of an IGAD Agenda on addressing land-based resource conflicts and issue concrete recommendations for review of national land policies and action plans to better integrate conflict management.
”It will also serve as a platform for rebuilding a Pan-African network at the most senior policy and technical levels on land conflict and peace, sustainable development and climate change,” she added.
On attendance of this conference, Nabakooba said it will be attended by ministers responsible for activities related to land administration, surveying, mapping and remote sensing, ministers responsible for Justice, and ministers responsible for the Environment among many others.
