Vice President Jessica Alupo has called for stronger regional cooperation, women's empowerment, and policy reforms to transform pastoralist communities across Africa.
Speaking at the African Pastoralist Women Gathering held in Uganda to mark the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralism under the theme "Voices from the Rangelands: African Pastoralist Women Rising for Land Rights," Alupo urged African countries to look beyond colonial borders and work together to drive socio-economic transformation.
"We, the African people, are brothers and sisters," she said, emphasizing the role of shared culture in strengthening unity and regional development.
Focus on Trade and Regional Integration
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Alupo highlighted the importance of pastoralism in regional trade, noting that countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, and South Sudan share similar livelihoods and challenges.
She said Uganda's rangelands, which cover about 44 percent of the country, support more than 6.6 million people, particularly within the cattle corridor stretching from Karamoja to southwestern Uganda.
The Vice President called for increased value addition in livestock products, including milk and beef processing, to boost exports and improve household incomes.
Government Policy and Investment
Alupo said the government is committed to supporting pastoralism through policies such as the National Land Policy and the Climate Change Act, 2021.
She credited President Yoweri Museveni for restoring peace and security, particularly in Karamoja, saying disarmament efforts have enabled pastoralists to transition from nomadic to more modern and commercial practices.
"The prevailing peace is allowing pastoralists to access veterinary services, improve livestock health, and move towards commercial production," she said.
Women at the Center of Transformation
Alupo emphasized that women play a central role in livestock production, food security, and household resilience but are often excluded from decision-making and land ownership.
She called for stronger networks of pastoralist women across Africa and urged participants to develop proposals for gender-responsive policies.
"If women are to be productive in the modern economy, they must have access to land and assets," she said, raising concern over cultural practices that favor male inheritance.
Climate Change and Land Pressures
The Vice President warned that climate change is increasingly disrupting pastoralist livelihoods through prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall.
She urged communities to adopt modern practices such as pasture planting, irrigation, and improved land management.
Alupo also cited growing pressure on rangelands due to population growth, land fragmentation, and competing land uses such as agriculture and infrastructure development.
Women Demand Land Rights, Recognition
At the same event, pastoralist women from across Africa called for equal land rights and greater recognition of their role in economic development.
Hannah Longole said women continue to sustain households under difficult conditions but remain largely invisible in decision-making.
"We wake up at midnight and work tirelessly to ensure households survive, yet we go unnoticed," Longole said.
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She criticized cultural norms that deny women land ownership, arguing that women should have equal rights to land from birth.
"It is time to change this. Women should have land rights just like boys," she said.
Call for Policy Action
Participants at the gathering, which attracted more than 200 delegates from across Africa, are expected to generate proposals on land rights, climate resilience, and sustainable pastoralism.
Organizers said the recommendations will be submitted to governments and regional bodies to influence policy and improve livelihoods in pastoralist communities.
The conference is part of broader efforts to advance gender equality, climate resilience, and equitable land governance across Africa's rangelands.
