African pastoralist women chart a new path in Kampala
The African Pastoralist Women’s Gathering (APWG) kicked off in Kampala this week, marking a historic milestone in the journey toward the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026.
Under the theme "Voices from the Rangelands," women leaders, policymakers, and advocates from across the continent gathered to ensure that the custodians of Africa’s drylands are no longer sidelined in global land governance.
A long-awaited turning point
The opening session was charged with a sense of urgency and determination. Opening the gathering, Ms Hannah Longole of the Ateker Cultural Centre (ACC) reminded participants that while the contributions of pastoralist women to livestock production and peacebuilding are immense, their voices have historically been excluded from the tables where decisions are made.
This gathering is a turning point.
She declared, welcoming delegates from Benin, Cameroon, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and beyond.
Mobility as a right, not a luxury
A central theme of Day One was the critical role of mobility. Mr Ken Otieno, the Coordinator of the Land Mobility Initiative (LMI) and Focal Point for Rangelands, provided a sobering technical perspective,
Mobility is the primary adaptive mechanism for pastoralism.
He cautioned that current trends toward individual land tenure pose a direct threat to the communal systems on which pastoralist women rely for their livelihoods. Supporting this, Ms Eva Maria Okoth, ILC Africa Regional Coordinator, highlighted that,
Rangelands are more than just statistics or acreage; they are landscapes defined by the unrecognised labour and ecological knowledge of women.
Insights from the field: Regional perspectives
The afternoon sessions brought the diverse realities of the continent to the fore:
West Africa
Delegates from Cameroon and Benin spoke on the necessity of protecting transhumance corridors and recognising women’s roles in cross-border livestock trade.
East Africa
Ana Ndiko shared inspiring progress from northern Tanzania, where women are beginning to break traditional barriers by joining councils of elders (Kaigwanani), providing a blueprint for shifting governance structures.
Looking ahead: The Pan-African Women’s Charter
As Day One concluded, the focus shifted toward the ultimate goal of the APWG: the development of the Pan-African Women’s Charter for Rangelands and Pastoralism. This document will serve as a unified advocacy tool to be presented at the global IYRP gathering in Mongolia later this year.
The message from Kampala is clear: African pastoralist women are not just victims of climate change or land tenure insecurity; they are the leaders of rangeland resilience.
