Lands Ministry Launches Inventory to Fight Land Grabbing
What the report says
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, working with the Uganda Land Commission, has started an inventory of government-owned land in 17 districts in southern Buganda. According to Nile Post, the exercise is aimed at identifying and documenting public land to reduce illegal transactions, fight land grabbing and safeguard land set aside for future public use.
Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba made the announcement in Masaka City during a meeting with district leaders from the affected areas. She said the ministry had found cases where public land was allegedly given titles, contributing to disputes, and said processing of special certificates of title on disputed government land has been suspended while procedures are reviewed. She also warned district land boards and other officials against issuing titles on land that belongs to the government.
Nabakooba said some land that currently appears idle should be preserved for future schools, hospitals, industries and other state projects. She also said titles issued on forest reserves had been identified for cancellation, with caveats placed on the land to prevent further transfers while the review continues.
Other officials echoed the call for tighter controls. The ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, Emmanuel Mugunga, pointed to alleged collusion between some land officials and private brokers, while Uganda Land Commission commissioner Tom John Fisher Kasenge urged stronger cooperation between local leaders and land institutions. Masaka City Mayor Florence Namayanja welcomed the initiative, saying it could help resolve long-running questions over public land in the area.
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Wakiso District Local Government has donated 50,000 tree seedlings to 52 farmers as part of efforts to increase tree cover, restore degraded land and mitigate the effects of climate change in the rapidly urbanising district. The seedlings were distributed through the district’s Forestry Department under a tree-planting programme aimed at encouraging farmers, households, institutions and community groups to plant trees during every rainy season. The initiative comes amid increasing urbanisation in Wakiso, which has led to the cutting down of trees to make way for residential and commercial developments. Speaking during the handover of the seedlings at the district tree nursery, Wakiso District Chairperson Eng. Ian Kyeyune said the growing demand for timber and furniture products makes tree planting essential if the district is to protect its environment while meeting the needs of its expanding population. “It is impossible to avoid the demand for timber and furniture given the high rate of construction in Wakiso and the surrounding areas. This gives us a ready market for tree products,” Kyeyune said. He said planting more trees at household level, through farmer groups and institutions, is the most sustainable way of replacing trees cut down for construction, furniture and other purposes. Kyeyune urged more farmers to join the programme, particularly those living on the Bussi Islands, where he said environmental degradation remains a concern. “We need more farmers to come on board and become ambassadors for forest restoration. The trees we cut must be replaced if we are to protect our environment for future generations,” he said. The district chairperson also cautioned beneficiaries against selling the seedlings, urging them instead to nurture the trees as a long-term source of income. “Do not sell these seedlings. Nurture them and turn them into a business. In the long run, these trees can provide income while also helping us restore the environment,” Kyeyune said. The programme is also intended to improve household incomes, with farmers expected to grow trees for commercial purposes. The seedlings distributed include Mugavu, which is also beneficial to banana production; Kilundu; improved Muvule varieties used for furniture production; and exotic Eucalyptus varieties from South Africa, among others. Wakiso District Forestry Officer Harriet Nankya said tree planting is increasingly important as the district continues to experience rapid urban growth. Nankya warned that failure to increase tree cover could expose communities to some of the environmental challenges being experienced in other parts of the world. “Wakiso is one of the fastest-growing urban districts, and tree planting will help protect our people from some of the calamities being experienced in different parts of the world, especially in Europe and the Far East,” Nankya said. She encouraged farmers to seek guidance from forestry extension officers in their respective areas to ensure that the seedlings are properly planted, maintained and managed. The district says it intends to continue distributing tree seedlings during the rainy seasons as part of its broader efforts to promote environmental conservation and sustainable livelihoods in Wakiso.Nile Post