Examines the literature on Uganda’s tenure systems, including the legal and administrative frameworks and their implementation at the local level, analyses the relations between these elements and tenure security and discusses ways in which land may relate to economic activities. Implementation of reforms has been slow and partial. The literature shows that the division of labour between land administration institutions at the different administrative levels is not clearly spelled out and that they are often inaccessible at the local level. Research has shown that despite the existence of a gender-sensitive legal framework in Uganda, women are discriminated against in both customary and statutory settings. Therefore, improving women’s access to land by reinforcing women’s rights at the local level would be a fundamental step and interventions should target the entire range of institutions that are important for women’s access to land.