UGANDA, Jinja | Real Muloodi News | Jinja City Land Board has announced plans to revoke undeveloped land leases within the metropolitan area, targeting ghost and absentee landlords. This decision was articulated by Jamir Sanyu Mukama, the chairperson of the Jinja City Land Board.
The board aims to address numerous dubious and fraudulent land transactions associated with undeveloped land leases.
Mr. Mukama highlighted that since the board’s institution, it has received over 20 new cases of land fraud, with approximately 100 cases currently in court.
“The board has, therefore, decided to halt all land transactions to fight the vice. I am directing the Jinja Lands Ministry Zonal Office to stop or halt all land transactions within the city as the board carries out its investigations into the loopholes of the land fraud,” said Mr Mukama on May 31.
Background and Legislative Framework
The Land Act (1998) mandates the Land Board to hold and allocate land in the districts and cities, among other roles. The newly formed Jinja City Land Board was instituted in February and sworn in on March 7.
The swearing-in ceremony was officiated by Rebecca Kadaga, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community (EAC) Affairs, who urged the incoming office bearers to serve the people with dedication.
“Jinja city is known for grabbing of public land belonging to schools, hospitals, and markets,” Ms. Kadaga noted during the ceremony.
Mr. Mukama noted that ghost and absentee landlords have hindered development in strategic areas of the city. The board’s efforts to revoke undeveloped land leases aim to address this stagnation and promote development.
The Land Board committee was formed after three years of division and disagreements among councillors. The seven-member committee, led by Mr. Mukama, includes Alex Luganda, Barbra Munyaruguru, Harriet Mirembe Mukisa, Phillip Bogere, Mohammed Katuntubiru, and Joram Emmanuel Kamugisha.
Council Speaker Bernard Mbayo stated that the formation of the Land Board committee was in the public’s interest to end the three-year vacuum that resulted in financial losses and disservices in the city.
According to a January report, Jinja City lost at least USh5 billion during the period it lacked a functional Land Board.
Board member Alex Luganda urged Jinja city residents to verify their land details with the board, noting complaints about the double allocation of land and the issuance of fake titles.
“It is very important to come and check with the Land Board desk to see whether we have your information regarding the title you have because you may have a useless paper in the safe or fake land title,” Mr Luganda said.
The Land Board has suspended all land transactions in Jinja City as it conducts investigations into fraudulent activities related to undeveloped land leases.
The objective is to identify and rectify loopholes that have allowed fraudulent transactions to occur. This measure is expected to curb the activities of ghost and absentee landlords, thereby facilitating the development of strategic areas within the city.
The Jinja City Land Board continues to work on acquiring accurate land titles and verifying existing ones to ensure that all land transactions are legitimate and contribute to the city’s development.
As the board proceeds with its investigations and actions, it emphasises the importance of transparent and accountable land management.
The goal is to ensure that all land within Jinja City is used effectively and contributes to the overall development and welfare of its residents.
The board’s efforts are geared towards creating a streamlined process for land allocation and development, minimising the chances of fraud and misuse of land.
Residents are encouraged to verify their land titles and engage with the board to ensure their land rights are protected and upheld.
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