On Saturday, June 28, 2025, the women of Kikuube District gathered at Ruguse Primary School in Bugambe Subcounty to celebrate a special occasion International Women’s Day. The theme this year was “For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, and Empowerment,” and the event was not only about celebration, but also action.
Representing the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Robinah Nabanja, Hon. Judith Nabakooba, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, addressed the gathering with powerful words of encouragement and progress. She praised the strength and resilience of Ugandan women, recognizing them as the backbone of families, communities, and the nation.
In a groundbreaking move, the Minister handed over 1,100 freehold land titles, many of which went to women making up 30.5% of the recipients. This was part of a major government effort to promote women’s land ownership and economic empowerment. Hon. Nabakooba urged the new landowners to use their titles wisely to avoid selling their land, and instead use it as collateral to access loans and improve their family livelihoods.
This event was part of a bigger government initiative known as the Systematic Land Adjudication and Certification (SLAAC) program, which is helping communities get legal ownership of land. So far, over 26,000 land parcels in Kikuube have been surveyed and are in the process of being titled. This not only helps protect landowners from disputes and evictions, but also brings security and peace to families.
Minister Nabakooba also approved 101 land title applications from the Church of Uganda and encouraged other religious institutions to follow suit. She emphasized the importance of having legal documents to protect land from being taken by the wealthy or dishonest individuals.
Thanks to recent reforms under her ministry, people in Kikuube no longer have to travel all the way to Kampala to access land services. These services are now available through the Masindi Ministry Zonal Office. Plus, with the launch of the Uganda National Land Information System (UGNLIS), citizens can check the status of their land, ownership, and other records online saving time and promoting transparency.
Hon. Nabakooba also spoke about the Parish Development Model (PDM), another government program aimed at helping Ugandans shift from subsistence to commercial farming. She encouraged all communities to embrace it and use government revolving funds to grow, process, and market their agricultural products.
In closing, the Minister thanked President Yoweri Museveni for his visionary leadership, which has helped many in Bunyoro and Kikuube to gain land rights and economic stability. She also appreciated the support of the World Bank, development partners, and local leaders like Woman MP Hon. Natumanya Flora and the RDC of Kikuube.
As Uganda looks ahead to the 2026 elections, Hon. Nabakooba urged citizens not to forget the development brought by the NRM government. With powerful chants of “Museveni Oyee!” and “NRM Oyee!”, the crowd showed strong support for the leadership and vision that continue to shape a better, more inclusive Uganda.
This Women’s Day celebration was more than just a ceremony it was a symbol of progress, equality, and hope for thousands of women and families in Uganda.
