UHRC VALIDATES RESEARCH ON PERSISTENT LAND CONFLICTS IN BUGANDA

Hon. Shifrah Lukwago Chairs Validation Meeting, Calls Land Question a Question of Justice and Dignity

KAMPALA — The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) on Thursday held a validation meeting for its Research Report on Persistent Land Conflict in the Buganda Sub-Region.

The meeting, which was organized by the Office of the Acting Secretary Mr. Kamadi Byonabye, was chaired by Hon. Shifrah Lukwago, Commissioner, Uganda Human Rights Commission.

In attendance were fellow Members of the Commission, Hon. Crispin Kaheru and Hon. Omara Apitta, the Acting Secretary Mr. Kamadi Byonabye, Directors and Heads of Departments, and staff from the Research and Documentation Department and other Directorates.

In her remarks as Chair, Hon. Lukwago thanked staff for their intellectual energy and commitment, noting that their presence was “not merely ceremonial” but a statement of collective commitment to confront one of the most sensitive challenges facing the country.

Rooted in 1900 Agreement

Hon. Lukwago noted that the persistence of land conflict in Buganda is not accidental, tracing its roots to the 1900 Buganda Agreement which institutionalized the Mailo land tenure system. She said this created overlapping rights between registered title holders and lawful and bonafide occupants (bibanja holders), a structure compounded by population growth, urbanization, rising land values, multiple titles, weak administration, corruption and slow dispute resolution.

“Central Uganda accounts for a disproportionately high share of land disputes in the country. Behind every statistic are real human stories: elderly tenants facing sudden eviction; young families unable to invest because of tenure insecurity,” she said.

She explained that the research was commissioned not to assign blame, but to generate rigorous, evidence-based understanding of the drivers, patterns and consequences of the conflicts by listening to tenants, landlords, local leaders, traditional authorities and ordinary citizens.

Validation is Not a Formality

“Validation is not a formality. It is an exercise in intellectual honesty, collective ownership, and democratic accountability,” Hon. Lukwago emphasized.

She said the frank comments and constructive criticism from staff would strengthen the final report and ensure its recommendations are practical, equitable and actionable to inform policy, institutional reform and community interventions.

She commended the research team for their diligence, cultural sensitivity and professional integrity, and thanked communities who shared their experiences “sometimes at personal risk,” as well as the Government of Uganda, the Buganda Kingdom, and local government officials who participated in the study.

“The land question in Buganda is, at its core, a question of justice, security, and dignity. When people feel secure on the land that sustains them, they plant trees for future generations, invest in better housing, and educate their children with confidence,” she said.

Next Steps

Hon. Lukwago said the next steps are to integrate all comments made, finalize and quality-assure the report for formal adoption by the Commission, and ensure the findings inform UHRC’s monitoring, advisory role to Government, public education, investigations and strategic partnerships.

She officially declared the validation meeting closed, urging staff to remain rigorous, impartial and people-centred as guardians of the Constitution’s promise.