UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | President Yoweri Museveni has directed the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to issue leases for squatters occupying public land across Uganda, a move aimed at reducing rampant land conflicts and unlawful evictions.
Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba announced the directive during a community engagement meeting in Mityana District, where she said the initiative aligns with the president’s ongoing campaign to regularize land ownership and secure the tenure of long-term occupants.
“The president has directed that all squatters on public land be given leases,” Nabakooba said. “Anyone who wants a lease should apply. The ministry is ready to process them in accordance with the law.”
According to the minister, the government’s decision seeks to provide occupants with legal recognition of their stay on public land, a move expected to mitigate conflicts that have long characterized land ownership and administration in the country.
Government to Begin Boundary Opening
Nabakooba revealed that the ministry has procured equipment to assist in land boundary opening and demarcation. These tools will be deployed across the country to help resolve overlapping claims and improve land administration.
She said the process would begin in Mityana District before expanding to other regions.
“The machines for boundary opening are already available. We shall start in Mityana and extend to other districts as resources allow,” she stated.
The minister added that the exercise will involve close coordination with local governments, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), and district land boards to ensure fairness and transparency during the surveying process.
Evictions Require Court Orders
Nabakooba warned landlords and individuals against carrying out unlawful evictions of tenants or occupants, stressing that such actions violate established legal procedures. She emphasized that no eviction should occur without a court order or authorization from the Resident District Commissioner.
“Evictions without a court order are illegal,” she cautioned. “Landlords must follow the due process of law. Anyone found violating this directive will face appropriate action.”
The directive comes amid growing public concern over land-related conflicts, particularly in rural areas where tenants and squatters often face evictions from landowners or speculators. The government hopes that formalizing leases for squatters will prevent forced evictions and strengthen land rights.
Land Fund to Support Regularization
To support the implementation of the new directive, Nabakooba said the government would make use of the Uganda Land Fund to facilitate the acquisition of land from willing landlords. The fund allows the government to purchase land and distribute it to lawful occupants or tenants at affordable rates.
She encouraged landlords with large tracts of land containing tenants to sell portions to the government through the Land Fund.
“We are encouraging landlords who are interested to sell land with tenants to the government so that those tenants can be given leases or ownership,” she explained.
The Land Fund, established under the Land Act, is designed to promote equitable land access and reduce landlessness by supporting compensation and redistribution programs.
Addressing Long-Standing Land Conflicts
Uganda has faced decades of land disputes stemming from overlapping ownership claims, colonial-era mailo land arrangements, and population growth. Many disputes have escalated into violence, with some involving powerful individuals accused of using political influence to evict vulnerable occupants.
According to the Ministry of Lands, land-related conflicts account for a large percentage of civil cases filed in courts across the country. The ministry has identified public land—especially in urbanizing and agriculturally productive regions—as a major hotspot for encroachment and dispute.
Nabakooba said the directive on leases for squatters is one of several measures being pursued under the government’s broader efforts to reform land management and promote equitable access.
She noted that many citizens live on public land without documentation, leaving them vulnerable to eviction or exploitation. Issuing leases, she said, would grant them legal protection and help the government maintain an updated national land register.
The government’s priority areas include public land held by local authorities, former public institutions, and community lands under customary tenure systems that have not been formally registered.
Officials said the ministry will also develop criteria to determine eligibility for squatters seeking leases, ensuring that the process is transparent and inclusive.
President Museveni’s Land Security Policy
President Museveni has repeatedly expressed concern over escalating land conflicts and has called for measures that protect poor citizens from illegal evictions. His administration has in recent years launched several initiatives, including digitizing land records and strengthening land tribunals.
The issuance of leases for squatters builds on those efforts and reinforces Museveni’s position that land ownership must balance private rights with social justice. He has consistently urged the Lands Ministry to protect occupants, particularly those on public or mailo land, from displacement.
Under Ugandan law, a lease grants a person temporary ownership rights—usually ranging from 49 to 99 years—over land owned by another party or the state. Leaseholders are entitled to use, develop, and transfer their interests within the terms of the agreement.
Broader Impact on Land Tenure and Development
Experts in land administration say the directive could improve tenure security for millions of Ugandans if implemented effectively. Legal recognition through leases can encourage investment in housing, agriculture, and infrastructure by providing occupants with assurance that their rights will be respected.
However, they note that implementation will require consistent enforcement of the law, robust record management, and community sensitization to prevent corruption and duplication of leases.
Experts emphasised that local governments and RDCs are expected to play a key role in verifying legitimate occupants and monitoring compliance during the lease issuance process.
The Ministry of Lands has pledged to provide periodic updates on progress and ensure that the initiative aligns with the country’s National Land Policy objectives, which emphasize security of tenure, land equity, and sustainable land use.
Officials say the initiative will be closely monitored to ensure it strengthens lawful land ownership and supports Uganda’s broader goals of economic growth and equitable development.
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