Paralegals Making an Impact: Uganda
In Uganda, the story of Victoria, Teddy, and Annet, paralegals from Mityana Municipality, shows the life-changing effect of supporting women to shape their own future. Over the past year, these three women received paralegal training through the Women’s Spaces project. With training on Uganda’s land, inheritance, and marriage laws, Victoria, Teddy, and Annet have become leaders in their community. They help resolve disputes, guide community members through legal processes and referrals, and educate them about their rights to land, housing, and gender equality. Their work is especially important for women and girls, who are more likely to face discrimination in land and housing matters, giving them the tools and support they need to claim their right to a life of dignity.
In Uganda, the constitution protects women’s right to land, but customary practices often prevent them from owning or inheriting it. Land typically passes through male relatives, leaving women economically dependent and vulnerable to poverty, gender-based violence, and exclusion from decision-making. When women lose access to their land, they often lose not only their livelihoods but also their homes—a safe place to live and raise their children. Many rely on their land to grow food, earn an income, and provide stability for their families. These discriminatory practices deny women the security they need to build stable lives and prevent them from fully contributing to their communities.
Victoria, Teddy, and Annet are helping their community by spreading awareness about legal rights, especially for women and girls. They offer guidance on critical issues like gaining control over land use, inheritance rights, resolving disputes, and addressing gender-based violence.
A woman, inspired by their workshop on land rights, decided she wanted to buy land but had no idea how to start. The paralegals walked her through the steps, explaining that she’d need a specific type of customary land title and a properly written and registered purchase agreement. Their support gave her the confidence to take this step, and she asked them to witness her agreement. She told them they had opened her eyes to the power of obtaining a land title in her name, especially as a woman. She now understood her rights and was able to confidently buy land—securing a foundation for herself and her family.
Please donate today and be part of this life-changing work. Together, we can ensure more women can secure a future for themselves and their families.
