The newly released Evaluation of Cadasta’s Certificate of Customary Ownership (CCO) Intervention in Uganda: Actual and Potential Effects conducted by the International Growth and Research and Evaluation Center (IGREC) provides an in-depth review of Cadasta’s partnership with the Ujamaa Foundation in Uganda to strengthen land tenure security in Uganda, particularly through the securing of government-recognized Certificates of Customary Ownership (CCOs) in rural communities. A unique system of land recognition put in place by the Uganda Government, CCOs are among the world’s first to fully recognize customary land tenure on the same level with other forms of tenure.
The evaluation covers the period from October 2020 to May 2022, during which Cadasta worked on an initial pilot project across four districts in Uganda: Namutumba, Apac, Maracha, and Agago. This pilot aimed to test and refine the use of Cadasta’s innovative technology and partnerships to address the challenges of scaling up CCO demarcation and registration, focusing on improving access to land tenure for customary communities.
Key Findings from the Evaluation
1. Positive Impact on Land Disputes and Tenure Security
One of the most significant achievements noted in the report was the reduction in land disputes. As CCOs provide formal recognition of land ownership, they have contributed to a marked decrease in conflicts over land in the communities studied. The report highlights how beneficiaries, particularly women, have experienced a greater sense of tenure security. This improvement has not only helped protect land rights but has also encouraged individuals to invest in land improvements, such as agriculture, which could lead to long-term benefits for households.
2. Advancing Women’s Land Rights
The report underscores the importance of the initiative in advancing women’s rights to land in Uganda. Women often face significant barriers to land ownership, which can limit their economic opportunities and access to resources. The CCO intervention has had a measurable impact on improving women’s land rights. By documenting land in women’s names and involving them in the process, the initiative contributed to women’s improved land rights, which can have a positive ripple effect on household incomes and food security.
3. Challenges with Public Awareness and Sensitization
While the intervention demonstrated promising results, the evaluation also highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in public awareness and sensitization efforts led primarily by local land agencies. The report revealed that gaps in understanding the CCO process and its benefits led in some cases to misconceptions, delays, and some anxiety within certain communities. Effective communication is crucial for ensuring that all stakeholders—especially community members—fully understand the process carried out by various project actors and the value of CCOs. Although improvements were made as the project progressed, this challenge is not unique to this project and reflects the complexities of implementing land tenure reforms at scale.
The evaluation suggests that more comprehensive and targeted outreach efforts, especially regarding women’s land rights and the long-term benefits of CCOs, would help address these challenges and reduce misinformation. These issues were addressed in the follow on project, in which Cadasta partnered with a local organization specializing in women’s land rights to ensure women’s inclusion in all aspects of the process and CCO documents.
4. Expansion of the Intervention and Growing Impact
By the end of 2023, Cadasta supported the government issuance of 3,774 CCOs across the four study districts. Following the initial pilot phase, a second iteration of the project incorporated improvements to expand its impact. As of September 2024, the follow on project had demarcated 12,357 parcels, directly benefiting 45,712 individuals (18,670 women and 27,042 men). To date, 5,550 CCOs have been issued with more in the final process, with plans to issue them early 2025, representing significant progress in achieving land tenure security for these populations.
Although the project was not originaly designed as a livelihood intervention, the evaluation also noted early signs of positive economic outcomes linked to secured tenure. With CCOs, participants have reported improvements in land value, desire to use the CCOs to access loans, and greater confidence in making agricultural investments. As the full benefits of secured tenure continue to materialize over time, there is potential for enhanced food security, improved natural resource management, and greater community resilience to climate change.
A Path Forward: Addressing Challenges and Strengthening Impact
The report emphasizes that the CCO intervention is still in its early stages and that further work is needed to realize its full potential. Cadasta has already taken steps to address the challenges identified, including:
- Increased Sensitization and Outreach: Expanded community engagement efforts, particularly focused on increasing awareness about women’s land rights and the advantages of CCOs.
- Training for Stakeholders: Between 2023 and 2024, Cadasta implemented training programs for government land stakeholders at the local, district, and national levels to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of land administration processes.
- Integration with National Land Information Systems: In collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Housing, and Urban Development, Cadasta has developed workflows to incorporate CCOs into Uganda’s National Land Information System (NLIS), ensuring that CCOs are fully recognized by communities, financial institutions, and employers.
- Economic Impact Study: A study is being designed to better understand the links between CCOs and improved livelihoods, particularly in terms of agricultural productivity and access to finance.
- National Awareness Campaigns: Cadasta has participated in national and local campaigns to increase awareness of CCOs and their benefits, with a focus on improving overall public understanding.
Looking Ahead
This report underscores the importance of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. While Cadasta is proud of the progress made, we are also committed to refining our approach to ensure that the communities we serve receive the full benefits of secure land tenure. We look forward to building on these lessons to strengthen our impact moving forward.
The Evaluation of Cadasta’s Certificate of Customary Ownership (CCO) Intervention in Uganda serves as a vital resource for understanding both the successes and challenges of customary land titling programs in Uganda and globally. It provides a transparent view of the progress made and outlines the steps needed to ensure continued success in enhancing land tenure security. These kinds of evaluations are essential for driving improvements and ensuring that interventions like the CCO program can contribute meaningfully to long-term family and community development.
As public understanding of the benefits of secure tenure continues to evolve, this report is a key step in refining approaches to ensuring equitable access to land ownership rights in Uganda and beyond.