Auma Theresa

Theresa Auma is a Social Worker by profession and a Ugandan by Nationality. She is the Executive Director of Land and Equity Movement in Uganda (LEMU) since October 2020. She has about 12 years of experience working with communities and policy makers on addressing the Land Question in Uganda.

In 2016, she enrolled for the prestigious MPHIL/PHD in Social Studies at Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR), Makerere University. She graduated with an MPHIL in January 2019 and her PhD dissertation titled “centralization of power in the customary resistance to land market expansion in the Lango region of northern Uganda” is currently under examination. Her PhD research focuses on society is deploying customary power against state power and the market, in their resistance to the expansion of (neoliberal) land markets into the realm of customary land tenure in northern Uganda. Her academic research interest spans issues around market systems, the land question and questions around social reproduction under capitalism.

Besides her employment at LEMU and academic contributions, Theresa has also offered expert services as a consultant to international organizations such as FAO- Uganda Office, GIZ Uganda, Uganda Agribusiness Alliance and Namati Inc, focusing on diverse topics such as promoting responsible investments in land, protection of community lands and resources.