Lands Ministry Vows to End Land Conflicts & Ensure Sustainable Land Use

Kampala, Uganda — November 26, 2024:

The Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, represented by the State Minister for Urban Development, Hon. Obiga Mario Kania, has pledged to address Uganda’s persistent land conflicts and champion sustainable land use across the country. This announcement was made during the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Manifesto Week, where the Ministry presented its progress, achievements, and challenges in implementing its manifesto commitments.

The Ministry reiterated its mandate to ensure rational, sustainable, and effective land use, aligning with its overarching goal to secure rightful ownership of land for all Ugandans while addressing housing and urban development needs.

Key Commitments to Resolve Land Conflicts

The Ministry unveiled a comprehensive approach to tackle land conflicts and ensure secure land ownership:

1. Securing Rights of Occupants:
   The Ministry has facilitated the acquisition of 18,956 hectares of land from absentee landlords in regions such as Ankole, Buganda, and Toro. This land is now being allocated to lawful and bona fide occupants, ensuring long-term security and ownership rights for vulnerable Ugandans.
2. Support for Customary Land Owners:
   A total of 90,000 certificates of customary land ownership have been produced and issued to beneficiaries in districts including Kisoro, Kabale, Mbale, Soroti, Maracha, and Katakwi. This initiative empowers customary landowners to legally register their land, reducing disputes and fostering security.
3. Systematic Land Demarcation:
   The Ministry has scaled up systematic land demarcation projects in several districts for both customary and freehold land. This ensures clear boundaries and reduces conflicts arising from overlapping claims.
4. Land Registry Cleanup:
   Efforts are underway to clean up the national land registry by canceling multiple titles issued for the same piece of land. This process aims to eliminate fraud and maintain genuine ownership records.
5. Conflict Resolution Through Partnerships:
   The Ministry is engaging cultural and religious leaders to mediate and resolve customary land disputes. These partnerships tap into traditional conflict-resolution mechanisms to foster harmony in communities.
6. Improved Public Access to Land Information:
   To promote transparency and efficiency, the Ministry has rolled out public portals of the Land Information System (LIS), enabling users to conduct land searches. A toll-free call center (0800100004) has also been established to address public inquiries.
7. Integration with Other Government Agencies:
   The LIS is being integrated with key government bodies such as the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) to streamline operations and enhance service delivery.

Housing and Urban Development Initiatives

The Ministry also highlighted its contributions to housing and urban development, emphasizing efforts to enhance wealth creation, job creation, and public service delivery:

Affordable Housing:
Plans are underway to recapitalize the Housing Finance Bank, enabling it to expand and provide affordable mortgage financing to Ugandans.

Improved Infrastructure:
The Ministry continues to invest in road networks in urban centers and refugee-hosting communities, addressing urban sprawl and improving connectivity.

Public Service Access:
Through organized community dialogues (barazas), the Ministry is promoting access to essential services such as clean water, sanitation, healthcare, and education in urban and rural areas.

Challenges and Way Forward

Despite notable progress, the Ministry acknowledged persistent challenges, including:

Increased cases of land evictions and encroachment on government land and protected areas.

Rapid urban sprawl, slum proliferation, and informal settlements.

Growing housing conflicts and inadequate compliance with physical planning standards.

Insufficient funding to fully implement the NRM manifesto commitments.

To overcome these obstacles, Hon. Obiga Mario Kania called for increased funding from the Ministry of Finance, closer collaboration with other government agencies, and a unified effort to ensure compliance with planning standards.

A Call to Action

The Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development remains committed to creating a future where land conflicts are a thing of the past, ownership rights are secure, and all Ugandans can enjoy decent housing and sustainable urban development. “We are determined to end land conflicts and ensure land is a resource for development, not a source of disputes,” vowed Hon. Obiga Mario Kania.

This renewed commitment reflects the government’s resolve to fulfill its manifesto promises and drive progress in land, housing, and urban development sectors. As Uganda grows, the Ministry’s efforts are pivotal in creating a fair, just, and sustainable environment for all citizens.