By Spy Uganda
The Government has announced a raft of decisive measures aimed at curbing escalating land-related disputes and crimes, in a renewed effort to safeguard property rights and boost investor confidence across the country.
Addressing the media in Kampala, Lands, Housing and Urban Development Minister Judith Nabakooba acknowledged growing concern over land conflicts despite Uganda’s robust constitutional and legal framework.
She reaffirmed that Article 237 of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda guarantees land ownership to citizens, while existing laws such as the Land Act, Mortgage Act, and Succession Act provide protections for lawful occupants, spouses, and widows.
However, fresh data from the Uganda Police Force indicates a sharp rise in land-related crimes, with cases increasing by 67 percent from 397 in 2024 to 663 in 2025 highlighting the urgency for intervention.
According to the Ministry, the surge in disputes is fueled by multiple factors, including outdated and fragmented land laws, fraudulent land transactions, unscrupulous agents, absentee landlords, and increasing boundary conflicts. Other contributors include unlawful evictions, estate mismanagement, and tensions between tenants and landlords.
“These challenges are undermining investment, wealth creation, and social harmony,” Nabakooba noted.
To address the crisis, government has rolled out several reforms and enforcement mechanisms:
- Tightened Eviction Controls: Through Administrative Circular No. 1 of 2025, all evictions must now involve District Security Committees and be cleared in consultation with the Ministry. Unauthorized evictions, particularly by estate administrators and heirs, have been banned.
- Stricter Land Transaction Oversight: All land transactions exceeding 0.5 acres in the central region and one acre elsewhere must undergo verification to confirm ownership interests before subdivision or transfer.
- Regulation of Private Security: The use of private security guards on disputed land has been discouraged, with a call to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to strengthen oversight of private security firms.
- Clear Eviction Guidelines: Court-sanctioned evictions must comply with strict legal procedures, including valid court orders, police presence, and a mandatory notice period of 90 to 120 days. Evictions are also restricted to daytime hours on weekdays and must respect human rights and dignity.
In a move to modernize land governance, the Ministry revealed plans to deploy blockchain and artificial intelligence technologies to combat fraud in land transactions.
Additionally, new regulations now allow tenants to deposit nominal ground rent (Busulu) with the government via the Uganda Revenue Authority in cases where landlords are absent or refuse payment—providing a legal safeguard for tenants.
The government is also undertaking mass land titling to resolve boundary disputes and curb land grabbing, alongside nationwide sensitization campaigns to educate citizens on land rights.
Efforts are underway to retool land management institutions and enhance their capacity to deliver efficient services, while public awareness campaigns aim to reduce conflicts through better understanding of land laws and rights.
Resident District Commissioners have been urged to remain vigilant in maintaining law and order, particularly in handling land-related conflicts within their jurisdictions.
Nabakooba reaffirmed government’s commitment to protecting citizens’ land rights and promoting social justice.
“All these interventions are geared towards strengthening tenure security, reducing land-related crimes, boosting investment, and enhancing economic productivity,” she said.
She called on all stakeholders to strictly adhere to established legal procedures to ensure lasting solutions to land conflicts.
