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.