November 11-12, 2024 (Buganda Cluster, Seeta, Mukono – Uganda): As part of the review of Uganda’s National Land Policy (2013), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), through the Land Governance programme of its Agriculture and Environment Division, convened a two-day workshop for the Buganda Cluster in Mukono/Seeta, Uganda. The workshop aimed to gather stakeholder perspectives and recommendations for incorporation into the draft revised National Land Policy and to consolidate these inputs for adoption and approval by the National Land Policy (NLP) Review Working Group.
This event is the first in a series of regional meetings to be held across Uganda over a two-week period, ensuring participatory development of a revised national land policy. The gathering included technical experts from the Uganda Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, a team of consultants responsible for creating the Land Issues Paper and the zero draft of the revised policy, as well as representatives from civil society organizations, Resident District Commissioners, district officials, district land committees, and other local leaders, including the Mayor of Mukono.
At the opening session of the meeting, IGAD Head of Mission, Joselyn Bigirwa on behalf of H.E Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD Executive Secretary stressed the fact that Land is a source of conflict and insecurity across the IGAD region, and reviewing the national land policy is critical. Land issues, if not addressed, hinder meaningful development. The resulting policy that comes from these discussions should not only be conflict-sensitive but must also be gender-responsive and address the unique needs and challenges of women and other special interest groups like the youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
Resident District Commissioner of Mukono Fatuma Ndisaba Nabitaka highlighted that Buganda region leads in land disputes and mismanagement, making this review and the consultation an opportune moment to understand the issues, challenges, institutional gaps, and legal gaps at the local level. She reiterated further that the engagement allows policy formulators to hear directly from local officials about land issues and incorporate them into the revised policy.
Hon. Minister Judith Nabakooba, Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, emphasized the need to manage land sustainably and equitably for the benefit of all. “The issues affecting land in Uganda—overlapping titles, conflicts between registered landowners and bona fide occupants, absentee landlords, climate change, illegal evictions, and population-driven land scarcity—are the reason we are holding these consultations,” she noted.
The meeting concluded successfully where Participants from the Buganda region emphasized that the revised land policy should address several longstanding challenges. They highlighted the urgent need to curb rampant and unlawful evictions, ensuring stronger legal protections for land occupants. They have called for the addressing of situations of bonafide land occupants and absentee landlords and clear definitions of rights and protections for both groups. They highlighted the need to secure government land for development and public purposes that will be used to support infrastructure, public services, and community needs. The policy should also address cases where bonafide occupants have settled on institutional lands, such as property owned by schools, churches, and other organizations, to balance occupants’ needs with the institutions’ purposes. Additionally, they raised concerns over unsustainable land subdivisions, suggesting guidelines to prevent excessive fragmentation and maintain land viability. They also pointed out the need for improved coordination among institutions responsible for land management to reduce overlaps and enhance effective implementation. Finally, they recommended harmonizing and simplifying the process for acquiring letters of administration to make land succession more accessible to every citizen.
This workshop signals IGAD with the support of Sweden and Uganda’s continued commitment to a collaborative, inclusive process that ensures all stakeholder voices are represented in the revised Uganda National Land Policy.
