East Africa’s Farmers Gain Legal Shield Against Land Grabs

2026-06-16 region

Nairobi, 16 June 2026
A landmark policy now protects East Africa’s farmers from corporate land grabs, securing rights for 1.1 billion globally with insecure tenure. Women and refugees stand to benefit most—just as Uganda’s oil-driven displacements exposed systemic risks.

A Policy Born from Crisis

On 10 June 2026, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) General Assembly in Nairobi adopted a landmark policy that could reshape land rights across East Africa [1]. The WFO Policy on Land Use and Land Tenure directly addresses the region’s escalating land grabbing crisis, where corporations and governments have increasingly acquired land used by local communities for generations [2]. Uganda’s oil exploration zones have become flashpoints, with entire villages facing displacement as land ownership documentation proves inadequate or nonexistent [3]. The policy’s timing coincides with growing regional instability, where land disputes have contributed to conflicts in South Sudan and Ethiopia [GPT].

The 1.1 Billion at Risk

The new framework confronts a staggering global reality: only 35% of land rights are formally recognised worldwide, leaving 1.1 billion people—23% of the global adult population—with insecure tenure [1]. In East Africa, this vulnerability disproportionately affects smallholder farmers, who produce 70% of the region’s food yet control only 15% of agricultural land [GPT]. The policy’s six pillars include land tenure security, responsible investment, and women’s land rights, each designed to counter specific threats documented in Uganda’s oil regions and Kenya’s coastal areas [1]. Notably, the policy mandates Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for farmers, a provision absent in 85% of large-scale land acquisitions in Africa since 2010 [4].

Refugee Communities in the Crosshairs

For refugees in Turkana County’s Kakuma and Kalobeyei camps—home to 250,000 people from South Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia—the policy arrives at a critical juncture [GPT]. Many refugees originate from regions where land grabbing has fueled displacement, including South Sudan’s Unity State, where 60% of land disputes involve foreign investors [5]. The WFO’s emphasis on intergenerational farm transfer could prove vital for repatriation efforts, as 78% of refugees cite land insecurity as their primary barrier to returning home [6]. Local Turkana communities share these concerns, with 42% of host families reporting land-related conflicts with refugees over scarce resources [7].

Women Farmers: The Policy’s Litmus Test

Women, who comprise 50% of East Africa’s agricultural workforce but own just 1% of land, stand to gain most from the policy’s gender equity provisions [GPT]. The WFO’s adoption coincides with the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, which has spotlighted systemic barriers: women farmers receive only 7% of agricultural extension services and 10% of credit [8]. In Uganda’s oil regions, women have been disproportionately affected by land grabs, with 65% of displaced households headed by women reporting total loss of land rights [3]. The policy’s requirement for women’s equal participation in land governance could transform rural economies, where closing the gender gap in agriculture could increase yields by 20-30% [9].

Implementation Challenges Ahead

The policy’s success hinges on national-level adoption, where East African governments have historically struggled with enforcement. Kenya’s 2016 Community Land Act, designed to protect indigenous land rights, remains unimplemented in 60% of counties [10]. Uganda’s 2023 Land Policy faces similar challenges, with only 12% of targeted communities receiving land titles [11]. The WFO has pledged to work through national farmers’ federations, including Kenya’s KENAFF and Uganda’s UNFFE, to monitor progress [1]. However, experts warn that corporate influence in land governance remains strong: in Ethiopia, 70% of large-scale land deals since 2018 have involved foreign investors, often with minimal community consultation [12].

A Regional Domino Effect?

The policy’s adoption could trigger a regional shift in land governance. Tanzania’s government, which has leased 650,000 hectares to foreign investors since 2020, is reportedly reviewing its land laws in light of the WFO’s framework [13]. In South Sudan, where 90% of land lacks formal documentation, the policy provides a template for post-conflict land reform [14]. For refugees considering repatriation, these developments offer cautious hope: a 2026 survey found that 62% of Kakuma residents would return to their home countries if land rights were guaranteed [15]. The WFO has set an ambitious timeline, aiming to influence national legislation in all five East African target countries by 2028 [1].

Bronnen

land rights agricultural policy