The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has engaged stakeholders in the Bunyoro sub-region to strengthen public land protection, curb land grabbing, resolve boundary disputes, and improve government revenue collection through a Comprehensive Government Land Inventory.
The regional stakeholders’ workshop, held in Hoima on November 3rd, 2026, under the theme “Towards a Comprehensive Government Land Inventory for Sustainable Land Governance and National Development,” brought together policymakers, technical officers, local government leaders, land administration institutions and other stakeholders to discuss the development of a reliable national database of government land.
The initiative seeks to systematically identify, verify, survey and digitally map all government land, including institutional land, infrastructure corridors and ecologically sensitive areas.
Speaking at the engagement, the Senior Land Officer at the Uganda Land Commission, Ronnie Bahungule, emphasised that the exercise aims to establish clear records and protect public assets, not displace people.
“The exercise is meant to aid the identification and demarcation of government land. It’s not meant to evict anyone who is occupying or using government land,” Bahungule said.
He explained that securing government land titles involves rigorous procedures, including surveys, physical planning approvals, public notices for 14 days, and registration with the Uganda Land Commission.
Emphasising the importance of collective responsibility, Bahungule called on Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and local governments to work together in safeguarding public land.
“This is a shared responsibility. We can only protect national assets for future generations if MDAs and local governments work together,” he said.
The Hoima District LCV Chairperson, Uthman Mubarak Mugisha highlighted persistent challenges affecting land administration, including land grabbing, fraudulent land titles, illegal transactions and disputes arising from unclear land records.
He called for stronger collaboration among local governments, the Ministry of Lands, and security agencies, particularly the police, to address land conflicts and protect legitimate landowners. He also urged increased public awareness of land registration and title verification procedures.
Anchored in Articles 238 and 239 of the Constitution and Sections 48 and 49 of the Land Act, the initiative recognises the Uganda Land Commission’s mandate to hold and manage government land on behalf of the people of Uganda.
Once completed, the inventory is expected to strengthen accountability, prevent encroachment, reduce land-related disputes, improve public asset management, support informed government planning, and enhance local revenue mobilisation.
