Members of Parliament have been urged to champion reforms that strengthen land governance, protect citizens’ land rights and unlock the country’s socio-economic transformation.
The call came Friday during an orientation on land governance organized by the Uganda Parliamentarians Land Management Forum in partnership with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, OXFAM Uganda, Participatory Ecological Land Use Management Uganda and Cordaid International, among others.
The orientation brought together legislators to deepen their understanding of land administration, legislation and oversight responsibilities.
Representing Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth, Parliament Commissioner Jesca Ababiku described land as one of Uganda’s most valuable national assets and urged legislators to use their positions to safeguard citizens’ interests.
“Our Constitution under Article 237 mandates citizens to own land, and we are here representing them to ensure that we have better management of this resource,” she said. “Land issues are among the biggest problems in this country, and by choosing to be part of this forum, you are on the right track to address the concerns of the people who sent you to Parliament.”
Ababiku, also the Adjumani District Woman Representative, noted that about 42% of cases handled by courts relate to land disputes, warning that unless leaders intervene, vulnerable citizens risk losing their land amid growing competition for resources.
Reading the speaker’s prepared remarks, Ababiku said Parliament has a central role in ensuring justice, investment and national development through sound land governance.
“Land is more than a fiscal asset. It is the foundation of livelihoods, dignity and opportunity for our people. It sustains families, drives investment and underpins national development,” the speaker’s message stated.
The speaker’s remarks further challenged legislators to use the knowledge gained during the orientation to strengthen legislation and oversight.
“Our constituents did not send us here simply to make laws. They sent us here to solve problems. Every debate we hold and every law we pass should move Uganda closer to justice and opportunity,” the speech noted.
Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Judith Nabakooba said although Uganda has an elaborate legal and policy framework governing land, the country continues to grapple with land conflicts, illegal evictions, land grabbing, fraud, double titling and corruption.
“These challenges continue to affect livelihoods, delay investments and weaken confidence in our land institutions. That is why we need to team up with you to improve the land governance system,” Nabakooba said.
She called for greater public sensitization, saying ignorance of land rights remains one of the major drivers of land disputes.
“Our land governance system must continue to evolve. We must move beyond viewing land only as a matter of rights and ownership and increasingly position it as an economic enabler for development, job creation and wealth generation,” she added.
The minister highlighted progress made by the ministry, including the establishment of 22 Ministry Zonal Offices to decentralize land services and improve access to land registration, title processing and mortgage services across the country. She also said land records have been digitized, enabling citizens to conduct land searches online.
According to Nabakooba, Uganda has increased land registration coverage from 18% in 2013 to 30.12%, although she acknowledged that the majority of customary land remains undocumented, exposing many Ugandans to land grabbing.
She said the ministry continues to issue Certificates of Customary Ownership and has introduced a central government account through which lawful tenants can pay nominal ground rent, or busuulu, where landlords refuse to receive payment or cannot be traced.
Looking ahead, Nabakooba appealed to Parliament to support key legislative reforms, including the Real Estate Bill, amendments to the Land Acquisition Act, Trustees Incorporation Act, Survey Act and the Physical Planning Act.
“These reforms are necessary to address legal and institutional gaps, strengthen regulation, improve land administration, reduce fraud and exploitation and ensure our laws remain responsive to the country’s changing needs,” she said.
