UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba has warned Ugandans about the potential risk of losing land due to underutilisation, a situation that leaves it vulnerable to grabbers.
Speaking at the closure of a three-year project on Responsible Governance of Investments in Land in Kampala, Nabakooba stated that many of the land conflicts reported in Uganda arise from idle land.
“Of course, there are also conflicts in cities where sometimes buildings have been demolished over land wrangles, but most of the conflicts usually arise from land that is bushy and underutilised,” Nabakooba said.
She noted that land brokers may assume such land is unclaimed and seek buyers.
Nabakooba mentioned that only 20 to 30 per cent of customary land in Uganda is registered, which makes the remaining 70 per cent easier for land grabbers to sell or claim ownership.
The minister advised landowners to secure titles and certificates to ensure the security of their tenure.
The government, with support from partners such as the German international cooperation agency GIZ and the European Union, plans to raise awareness about land ownership and protection.
The minister emphasised that the National Land Policy 2013, once reviewed, will offer better protection against land grabbers and improve relations between investors and communities.
David Lowe, deputy head of development cooperation at the German Embassy, stressed the importance of organised and harmonised land investments to safeguard the rights of local communities.
James MacBeth Forbes, GIZ country director, stated that GIZ and the EU had invested €10 million (approximately USh41 billion) in securing land.
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