Women, who are among the poorest of the poor, and who depend on forest resources for subsistence and income, continue to be marginalised in policy- and decision-making, and in the distribution of tree or forest resources benefits. Forests and the sale of forest products are largely owned and controlled by men; women’s needs and concerns are neglected, as they have little power in determining development activities. Uganda has ratified several global conventions that promote gender equality. However, although there is progress in gender mainstreaming, implementation has been low at all levels while, in practice, customary norms still prevail and these largely confer access to forest and tree resources on women, while ownership is reserved for men. Against this light, the brief discusses a Gender, Tenure and Community Forestry project in Mpigi, Butambala, Masaka and Rakai districts, in the central region of Uganda which seeks to improve women’s tenure rights to forests by increasing their participation in community forest user groups.
