Article Sidebar

Submitted
November 13, 2024
Accepted
August 29, 2025
Published
August 30, 2025
Download
Download PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 39

Main Article Content

Abstract

The East African Community (EAC) is a region endowed with vast land resources that have the potential to drive economic, social, and environmental development. However, the lack of harmonised land-related policies among EAC member states has hindered the effective utilisation of these resources for regional development and the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) investment protocol. Through a desk review and qualitative content analysis, the study identifies significant gaps in land-related issues that hinder regional economic development. The findings reveal that land is a constitutional issue in all EAC member states, with policies varying in their objectives. Land Acts and other legal land-related documents do not consider EAC citizens as co-citizens in land access and use, as implementing EAC and AfCFTA protocols is challenging. The study concludes that harmonising land-related policies across the EAC is crucial. It will facilitate the implementation of various protocols and agendas, and promote the free movement of people, labour, goods, services, and capital.

Keywords

Land policies East African Community regional development land management African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

Article Details

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Prosper Turimubumwe

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Author Biography

Prosper Turimubumwe, University of Burundi, Burundi

Dr. Prosper Turimubumwe is a Burundian with a PhD in Land Policy and Governance from Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia. He earned a Master of Science in Urban Planning and Management from Ardhi University in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and a Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Dr. Turimubumwe is a lecturer at the University of Burundi, in the Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Department of Architecture, Urbanism, and Regional Planning. His main teaching and research topics include urban planning and management, land governance, land policies, urban livelihoods and economics, climate change and resilience, and housing. He has published articles and book chapters in various journals. Additionally, he has participated in multiple projects at the national and regional levels as a researcher and consultant in land-related initiatives.

How to Cite
Turimubumwe, P. (2025). Potential for Regional Development Through Harmonising Land- Related Policies Across East Africa. Pan-African Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 6(2), 32–48. https://doi.org/10.56893/pajes2025v06i02.03
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX

References

  1. Acharya, S. (2006). Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods: A Synthesis. Agricultural Economics Research Review, 19(December), 1–22.
  2. Adam, G., Cikara, A. M., Kayuza, H., Jossam, P., Turimubumwe, P., Wabineno, L. M., Wayumba, R., & Zevenbergen, J. (2020). Land Governance Arrangements in Eastern Africa : Description and Comparison. African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, 3(2), 2657–2664.
  3. Adigeh, D. T., & Dagnew, B. (2020). Urban land management practices and challenges: The case of Injibara town, Northwest Ethiopia. 11(8), 1746–1757.
  4. Auzins, A., Brokking, P., Jürgenson, E., Lakovskis, P., Paulsson, J., Romanovs, A., Valčiukienė, J., Viesturs, J., & Weninger, K. (2022). Land Resource Management Policy in Selected European Countries. Land, 11(12), 1–32. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122280
  5. Ayele, E. (2017). Policy Impacts on Housing Sector: Facts about Ethiopia. 1–10.
  6. Ayele, Y., Belete, M., & Willem, D. (2023). The AfCFTA Protocol on Investment: issues and potential impacts (Issue April).
  7. Azadi, H., & Vanhaute, E. (2019). Mutual effects of land distribution and economic development: Evidence from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Land, 8 (6), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/LAND8060096
  8. Barras, A. F. (1982). Land law in Burundi: legal and social ordering of land tenure in historical and contemporary Burundi [University of London]. http://eprints.uanl.mx/5481/1/1020149995.PDF
  9. Barry, M. (2018). Fit-for-purpose land administration – Administration that suits local circumstances or management bumper sticker? Survey Review, 50(362), 383–385. https://doi.org/10.1080/00396265.2018.1501130
  10. Bentley, R. (2022). Causes and Factors of Environmental Degradation. Journal of Geography & Natural Disasters, 2(1), 1–2. https://www.longdom.org/open-access/causes-and-factors-of-environmental-degradation.pdf
  11. Bogdański, M. (2012). Modern theories of regional development – a review of some concepts. Oeconomia Copernicana, 3(2), 25–41. https://doi.org/10.12775/oec.2012.007
  12. Bryman, A. (2012). Sampling in Qualitative Research. In A. Griffin (Ed.), Social Research Methods (Fourth, pp. 416–429). Oxford University Press Inc.
  13. Carraro, C. (1998). New economic theories: Impact on environmental economics. Environmental and Resource Economics, 11(3–4), 365–381. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1008204826571
  14. Che, S., Kumar, R. R., & Stauvermann, P. J. (2021). Taxation of land and economic growth. Economies, 9(2), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies9020061
  15. Cheng, J., & Luo, X. (2022). Analyzing the Land Leasing Behavior of the Government of Beijing, China, via the Multinomial Logit Model. Land, 11(3), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11030376
  16. Christiaensen, L., & Maertens, M. (2022). Rural Employment in Africa: Trends and Challenges. In Annual Review of Resource Economics (Vol. 14, Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-resource-111820-014312
  17. Dawadi, S., Giri, R., & Shrestha, S. (2021). Mixed-Methods Research : A Discussion on its Types , Challenges , and Mixed-Methods Research : A Discussion on its Types , Challenges, and Criticisms. Journal of Practical Studies in Education, 2(2), 25–36. https://doi.org/10.46809/jpse.v2i2.20
  18. Deininger, K. (2003). Land Policies for Growth and Poverty Reduction: A World Bank Policy Research Report (First). World Bank and Oxford University Press.
  19. Derlich, F. (2002). French Property Registering System : Evolution to a Numeric Format ? FIG XXII International Congress 2002, 1–6.
  20. Dimitrijević, D. (2022). Harmonisation of Regulations on Real Estate Acquisition in the European Union. In A. Duško, Dimitrijević, Miroslav (Ed.), Serbia and European Union (1st ed., Issue March 2018, pp. 79–90). Institute of International Politics and Economics, Makedonska 25, Belgrade.
  21. Dupasquier, C., & Osakwe, P. N. (2005). Foreign Direct Investment in Africa: Performance, Challenges and Responsibilities (No. 21; African Trade Policy Centre Working Paper.
  22. Dupré, M., Blazy, J. M., Michels, T., & Le Gal, P. Y. (2021). Supporting policymakers in designing agricultural policy instruments: A participatory approach with a regional bioeconomic model in La Réunion (France). Land Use Policy, 100(February 2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.105128
  23. East African Community. (2022). International Migration Statistics Report.
  24. East African Community. (2009). Protocol on the Establishment of the East African Community (EAC) Common Market.
  25. Enemark, S. (2005). The Land Management Paradigm for Institutional Development The Land Management Paradigm. In I. Williamson, S. Enemark, & J. Wallace (Eds.), Sustainability and land administration systems: Proceedings of the expert group meeting on incorporating sustainable development objectives into ICT-enabled land administration systems (pp. 17–29). Sustainability and land administration systems.
  26. Fligg, R. A., & Robinson, D. T. (2020). Reviewing First Nation land management regimes in Canada and exploring their relationship to community well-being. Land Use Policy, 90(September 2019), 104245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104245
  27. Friedmann, J., & Weaver, C. (1979). Territory and Function: The Evolution of Regional Planning (E. Arnold (ed.); 1st ed.). University of California Press.
  28. GIZ. (2018). Compilation of key outputs GIZ - Support to Policy Harmonisation in Integrated Catchment Management.
  29. Guneralp, B., Lwasa, S., Masundire, H., Parnell, S., & Seto, K. C. (2017). Urbanisation in Africa : challenges and opportunities for conservation. Environmental Research Letters, 13(015002), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aa94fe
  30. Hall, R. (2011). Land grabbing in Africa and the new politics of food. In Future Agricultures, Policy Brief.
  31. Harewan, Y., Wurarah, R. N., Santoso, B., & Sabariah, V. (2023). Analysis of land conversion to economic growth: the case of other purpose areas. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1192(1), 012052. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1192/1/012052
  32. Joseph, J., & Temba, F. (2024). Wahamiaji haramu 35 wakamatwa K’njaro wakiwa shamba la mahindi. Mwananchi, 1, 1. https://www.city.kawasaki.jp/500/page/0000174493.html
  33. Kanyangoga, J. B. (2010). Integrating Migration with Development in EAC : Policy Challenges and Recommendations (No. 1).
  34. Karmakar, P. (2017). Politics of Development: Land Acquisition and Economic Development in India. Journal of Land and Rural Studies, 5(2), 164–182. https://doi.org/ttps://doi.org/10.1177/2321024917703848
  35. Keringingo, T., & Kayakayacı, Z. (2023). Agricultural Land Access and Use in Burundi. East African Scholars Journal of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 6(02), 42–53. https://doi.org/10.36349/easjals.2023.v06i02.002
  36. Kironde, J. M. L. (2016). Governance Deficits in Dealing with the Plight of Dwellers of Hazardous Land: The Case of the Msimbazi River Valley in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Current Urban Studies, 04(03), 303–328. https://doi.org/10.4236/cus.2016.43021
  37. Kumari, P. (2016). Land Acquisition and Development: Who Gets the Actual Benefit? SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2779353
  38. Lie, J., & Mesfin, B. (2018). Ethiopia: A Political Economy Analysis. In the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Issue June).
  39. Milej, T. (2019). Legal Framework for Free Movement of People Within Africa – A View from the East African Community ( EAC ). ZaöRV, 79(1), 935–970.
  40. Morgan, S., Farris, J., & Johnson, M. E. (2022). Foreign Direct Investment in Africa : Recent Trends Leading up to the African Continental Free Trade Area ( AfCFTA ). In U.S. Department of Agriculture (Ed.), Economic Information Bulletin Number 242 (EIB-242; Issue 242). Economic Research Service.
  41. Ndi, F. A. (2017). Land grabbing, local contestation, and the struggle for economic gain: Insights from Nguti village, South West Cameroon. SAGE Open, 7(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016682997
  42. Olima, W. H.A. (1997). The conflicts, shortcomings, and implications of the urban land management system in Kenya. Habitat International, 21(3), 319–331. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S0197-3975(97)00010-6
  43. Platt, R. H. (1974). Land Use and Society. In Land Use and Society Geography, Law, and Public Policy (Third Edition, pp. 13–19). Island Press. https://doi.org/10.5822/978-1-61091-455-0
  44. Rafiee, V., & Stenberg, E. (2018). Land grabbing and its implications on rural livelihoods in Ghana and Ethiopia. A Comparative study [| Institutionen för Naturvetenskap]. http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1242736/FULLTEXT01.pdf
  45. Robertson, B., & Pinstrup-Andersen, P. (2010). Global land acquisition: neo-colonialism or development opportunity? Food Security, 2, 271–283. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-010-0068-1
  46. Rurangwa, E. (2002). Perspective of Land Reform in Rwanda. In E. Rurangwa (Ed.), Land Policy and Land Reform in Sub-Saharan Africa (pp. 1–12). Congress, FIG XXII International.
  47. Semeraro, T., Zaccarelli, N., Lara, A., Cucinelli, F. S., & Aretano, R. (2020). A bottom-up and top-down participatory approach to planning and designing local urban development: Evidence from an urban university centre. Land, 9(4), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.3390/land9040098
  48. Shingal, A., & Mendez-Parra, M. (2020). African greenfield investment and the likely effect of the African Continental Free Trade Area. In Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (No. 387; 1, Vol. 387, Issue 1). https://www.econstor.eu/handle/10419/242866
  49. Signé, L. (2017). Policy Implementation – A Synthesis of the Study of Policy Implementation and the Causes of Policy Failure. In OPC Policy Centre: Vol. PP-17/03 (Issue March). http://www.ocppc.ma/sites/default/files/OCPPC-PP1703.pdf
  50. Srivastava, B. B. (2016). Land Governance. Land Rights in India, 62, 302. https://www.routledge.com/Land-Rights-in-India-Policies-movements-and-challenges/Bhagat-Ganguly/p/Book/9780815395867
  51. Szajnowska-Wysocka, A. (2009). Theories of Regional and local development – Abridged review. In Wydział Ziem (Ed.), Bulletin Of Geography socio–economic series (Issue 12/2009, pp. 75–90). University of Silesia.
  52. Takele, N. S., Kwame, C. S.-Y., & Asfaw, M. (2014). Strengthening Good Governance in Urban Land Management in Ethiopia: A Case Study of Hawassa. Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 4(15), 96–108.
  53. Tesha, H. (2021). Wahamiaji haramu 52 wakamatwa Kigoma. Mwananchi, 1.
  54. Turimubumwe, P. (2021). Contextualising Compulsory Land Acquisition Strategies for Sustainable Urban Development in Burundi. African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, 4(4), 2657–2664.
  55. Turimubumwe, P., Adam, A. G., & Alemie, B. K. (2022). Policy level analysis of public urban lands management in Burundi: insights for harmonisation of policy frameworks. GeoJournal, 26(4), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-022-10801-6
  56. UNECA. (2018). The East African Monetary Union: Ready or Not.
  57. UNECA. (2021). The AfCFTA Investment Protocol: Reshaping the African investment regulatory landscape for sustainable development. In Towards a Common Investment Area in the African Continental Free Trade Area (pp. 90–159). African Union.
  58. UNECE. (2000). Study on Key Aspects of Land Registration and Cadastral Legislation
  59. UNECE. (2005). Land Administration in the UNECE Region: Development trends and main principles. United Nations. https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/hlm/documents/Publications/landadmin.devt.trends.e.p
  60. Vaismoradi, M., & Snelgrove, S. (2019). Theme in qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung, 20(3), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.17169/fqs-20.3.3376
  61. Walliman, N. (2011). Research Methods. Routledge.
  62. Watson, B. A. (2006). John Marshall and Indian Land Rights: A Historical Rejoinder to the Claim of “Universal Recognition” of the Doctrine of Discovery. Seton Hall Law Review, 36(2), 481–549.
  63. Yang, H., Huang, K., Deng, X., & Xu, D. (2021). Livelihood capital and land transfer of different types of farmers: Evidence from panel data in Sichuan province, China. Land, 10(5), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10050532
  64. Zhang, Z. (2024). China’s Greenfield Investment and African Countries’ Green Growth Under the Belt and Road Initiative. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 16(6), 1. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijef.v16n6p1