Soroti, Uganda – February 2, 2026
The Land and Equity Movement in Uganda (LEMU) has renewed its partnership with the Kumam Cultural Heritage Institution in a bid to address pressing land challenges and strengthen the management of customary land tenure across Kumam land.
The renewed engagement was confirmed by Dr. Theresa Auma O. Eilu, Executive Director of LEMU, during a stakeholders’ review meeting held at the Soroti District Lukiiko Hall on Monday. The meeting brought together chiefdom ministers, cultural leaders, and other key stakeholders to assess and update the Principles, Practices, and Responsibilities (PPRR) Book for customary land tenure management.
Dr. Auma noted that LEMU first collaborated with the Kumam Elders’ Forum in 2008 to document customary land rules and practices. With the formal establishment of the Kumam Chiefdom, she said it was timely to revisit and revise these guidelines to align with current realities and governance structures.
“Now that Kumam has its chiefdom in place, it is important to re-engage and update the documented customary land rules to ensure they effectively guide land management and dispute resolution,” Dr. Auma said.
She emphasized the growing need for community-based mediation strategies to address the rising number of land disputes. According to her, protecting customary land tenure systems remains central to safeguarding community rights and preventing land-related conflicts.
Peter Ekilu, Deputy Prime Minister II of the Kumam Cultural Heritage, commended LEMU for its continued partnership and commitment to supporting the chiefdom on land governance matters.
“LEMU has remained a reliable partner in strengthening our systems and protecting our people’s land rights,” Ekilu said.
Also speaking at the meeting, Moses Elilu, Program Manager at Redeem International, underscored the importance of building trust between leaders and the community. Redeem International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting widows and orphans from violence, exploitation, and land grabbing, advocates for collaborative approaches to land justice.
He called for transparent leadership and active community participation to ensure fair and equitable land management practices.
The renewed collaboration between LEMU and the Kumam Cultural Heritage is expected to strengthen customary land governance, reduce disputes, and enhance the protection of vulnerable community members, marking a significant step toward sustainable land justice in the region.
