President Yoweri Museveni has authorized the Ministry of Lands to issue official leases to squatters occupying public land across the country.
The directive, announced by Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba during an NRM reconciliation event in Ssekanyonyi and Maanyi sub-counties, Mityana District, seeks to formalize occupancy for thousands of Ugandans and curb illegal evictions.
“We are going to start opening boundaries and give out those leases. This is in a bid to reduce conflicts and evictions on land,” she said.
According to Nabakooba, some of the squatters have lived on public land for years without legal documentation, making them susceptible to eviction and land grabbing.
However, in granting leases, the government hopes to provide legal security and encourage peaceful land use.
To facilitate this process, the Ministry will begin boundary opening exercises, starting in Mityana.
Nabakooba revealed that the government has procured new surveying equipment to aid in demarcating land, an exercise previously hindered by logistical challenges.
“Mityana is among the first beneficiaries of these new machines. For a long time, opening land boundaries has been a challenge, but that’s now behind us,” she noted.
The minister issued a stern warning landlords against evicting tenants without proper legal procedures, noting that only court orders or directives from the Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) can authorize such actions.
She pointed out that family disputes especially involving inheritance remain a leading cause of land conflict. In many cases, heirs take control of estates and sideline other family members.
“Being an heir doesn’t give you the right to sell land or mistreat relatives. Everyone in the family has a right to benefit from the land,” Nabakooba said.
Nabakooba said the government through the Land Fund will begin purchasing land from landlords with many sitting tenants. She encouraged residents to report such landlords to her office so the government can initiate the compensation process.
The announcement came during an NRM mobilization event aimed at rallying support ahead of the 2026 general elections.
At the same event, Faith Tumwebaze, a senior NRM official and former District Executive Committee member warned party officials against supporting independent candidates who lost in the NRM primaries.
“You’ll first receive a warning, but if you don’t stop, we’ll send your name to the secretariat and have you replaced,” Tumwebaze said.
NRM parliamentary candidate Kamya Makumbi, who is seeking to reclaim the Mityana South seat from Hon. Richard Lumu of the Democratic Party, pledged to restore services and revive development in the area. He pointed to his past record as MP, including efforts to extend clean water access to local villages.
Joseph Luzige, the party’s flag bearer for LC5 Chairperson, also appealed for support, urging voters to reflect on the services delivered during his previous term. “Let’s not make the same mistake we did in the last election,” Luzige said.
NRM chairperson for Ssekanyonyi, Noah Ssenkungu, stressed the need for party unity and continuity from the national level down to village councils. “To truly benefit from government programs, we need one voice from the President down to the LC1,” he said.
The lease initiative signals a critical step in Uganda’s land reform efforts, offering hope to thousands who have lived for decades without secure land tenure.
