UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | During the NRM Manifesto Week 2023, Dr Sam Mayanja, the State Minister for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, announced that the government has acquired 334,458 acres of land (523 square miles) across the entire country.
This initiative is part of the government’s strategy to put an end to evictions and resolve land disputes arising from multiple interests.
As per Minister Mayanja’s accountability report, the Land Fund has already covered regions such as Buganda, Bunyoro, Ankole, and Tooro.
Engagements have been carried out with the Kakungulu family to secure land for the occupants in Bugisu and end evictions there.
“Titles have been processed by ULC and issued to sitting tenants in Kakumiro, Kagadi, Bunyangabu, and Kasese, Additional processing in Kikuube is underway,” said the minister.
To improve land governance, the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development has decentralised land administration to 22 Ministry Zonal Offices (MZOs) across the country.
Minister Mayanja highlighted that the computerised system used in these offices has been upgraded with open-source technologies.
The system now includes new functionalities like valuation and physical planning.
Furthermore, the ministry has developed a public and corporate web portal, starting with Kibuga and part of Kyadondo. Staff members have been trained on the operations and management of the system to ensure effective service delivery.
The ministry has been actively involved in resolving land conflicts through various interventions. One of these interventions is the issuance of Customary Certificates of Ownership (CCOs) to customary landowners in several districts, including Namutumba and Luuka in Busoga, Mbale District, and Mbale City in Bugisu, among others.
Additionally, the ministry is collaborating with traditional, cultural, and religious leaders to address customary land conflicts.
Efforts are also being made to resolve district boundary disputes in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government (MOLG) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOIA).
“500,000 titles are expected to be processed under CEDP by the MZOs in 32 districts of Bugiri, Tororo, Budaka, Butebo, Kibuku, Pallisa, Busia, Kaberamaido Omoro, Kitgum, Kwania, Alebtong, Otuke, Kole, Buyende, Kaliro, Bugweri, Yumbe, Zombo, Arua, Koboko, Terego, Madi Okollo, Nebbi, Kalaki, Ngora, Amuria, Kabarole, Bunyangabu, Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa and Masindi,” Dr Mayanja said.
He added, “[We are] curbing Illegal Land Evictions through Alternative Land Dispute Resolution mechanisms [and] completing review of Land laws and land regulations.”
The government’s commitment to infrastructure development is reflected in the implementation of the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) program.
Minister Mayanja said that USMID is in 33 Local Governments that includes 10 regional cities, 12 Municipalities and 11 District Local Governments which host a significant number of refugees.
The minister said, “14 Municipal Local Governments benefited from the first phase of USMID i.e ; Arua, Lira, Gulu, Soroti, Entebbe, Mbale, Tororo, Jinja, Masaka, Hoima, Fort Portal, Mbarara, Kabale and Moroto.”
The first phase of USMID benefited 14 municipal local governments, such as Arua, and Lira.
He noted that the second phase of the program added on other 8 Municipalities of Ntungamo, Mubende, Kasese, Apac, Kamuli, Lugazi, Kitgum, and Busia.
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