Introduction to the case
Uganda Land Alliance (ULA) is an example of a CSO that has recorded considerable success in its advocacy for pro-poor land policies, in no small measure due to its ability to use research both to empower the poor and to engage policymakers. Aided by research-based arguments and information, ULA played a successful intermediary role, between the citizenry and the state elite, to arrive at a land law (Land Act, 1998) that is not just driven by economic imperatives but also addresses issues of equity.

Type and extent of policy change
The policy change discussed in this cases study is the enactment of the Land Act in 1998, which includes considerations that protect children, women rights and the poor in general.

Some thoughts on the explanation of the policy change
The political context
Over the past 15 years Uganda has been involved in wide ranging reforms aimed at rebuilding a country whose socio-economic and political fabric had been shattered by years of political instability and civil conflict. Being a predominantly agrarian economy, it was argued that to stimulate economic development, land reforms aimed at making the existing land tenure regime more efficient were crucial. Consequently, the government, in conjunction with the World Bank, commissioned a study of the existing landholding systems and their implications for agricultural development. The findings provided a basis for drafting the Tenure and Control of Land Bill of 1990 which, however, never became law and was overtaken by events, particularly the process of making a new national constitution.

During the constitutional process, debates over land issues figured prominently and discussions on land matters were 'extremely fractious, with several competing interests advanced'. For reasons of political expediency - there were impending presidential and parliamentary elections - the provisions for land reform included in the constitution were general in nature and major changes were deferred. The constitution, promulgated in 1995, therefore enjoined the next parliament to enact a new land law. The period between 1995 and 1998 was characterised by intense debate over a newly drafted land bill, with different interest groups lobbying parliament and the President. It was during this period that the Uganda Land Alliance (ULA) was formed as an interest group advocating for land policies and laws that addressed the rights of the poor and protected access to land for the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups/individuals.

The ways ULA tried to effect policy change
To achieve its objectives ULA adopted two simultaneous approaches. First, efforts were committed to raising public awareness about land issues and what was proposed in the land bill, focusing particularly on the primary groups they sought to represent - the rural poor and women. For this, ULA also lobbied key international agencies, drawing on the connections and experiences of founder member international NGOs. The second approach adopted by the Alliance was to engage policy makers through written presentations (memoranda and research publications), workshops, live radio debates, open letters to ministers, press releases, and meetings with members of parliament and other policy makers.

The nature of research-based evidence
To support its arguments and engage with the government's proposals, ULA drew significantly on evidence provided by research either conducted in-house or commissioned. ULA relied heavily on the research capacities held by its constituent organisations to counter government proposals based on a World Bank-funded study, which recommended a tenure system aimed at stimulating the land market as a mechanism for transferring land from inefficient to efficient farmers. This demanded research based evidence that challenged the findings and recommendations of the study - the use of demographic evidence was critical. A series of publications were produced from the research, many of which had a striking focus on gender issues.

The mechanisms used by ULA to get the evidence into the policy process
The main channels through which ULA sought to get its evidence into the policy process was through policy briefings and memoranda, highlighting the key research findings and recommendations for policy. The submissions were mainly made to parliament and government ministers. ULA also used every opportunity to engage in debate with policy makers in various forums, such as workshops and radio shows.

This approach was supplemented by lobbying international development partners who are an influential voice in the country's policy making process. Most significant, however, is the pressure mounted on policy makers by ordinary citizens as a result of sensitisation and empowerment engendered by ULA's workshops and information dissemination.

International factors
Besides coming up against vested endogenous interests, some of the proposals made by ULA did not have the support of influential international development partners who argued for market-led neo-liberal policies. However, the Alliance also managed to garner support of foreign NGOs such as Oxfam and Action Aid, who were among its initial founders, and these provided resources and support to the organisation.

Conclusion
Having started as a loose umbrella organisation, primarily constituted of international NGOs that had a strong interest in pro-poor policies, ULA has grown into a strong organisation that has made significant contribution to on-going land reform in Uganda. ULA made use of research evidence not only to inform and sensitise the public on the implications of proposed land reforms but also to engage and convince the political elite involved in making policy. This case illustrates the importance of packaging research evidence in a manner that is both comprehensible and appealing to different target audiences; and civil society capacity to engage in the more sophisticated aspects of policy when interfacing with policy makers.

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