infrastructure 5 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Government Pushes for Land Acquisition Reforms to Accelerate Urban Infrastructure
Ugandan officials are advocating for policy and constitutional reforms to streamline land acquisition for major projects under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area–Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP). Key proposals include a shared utility infrastructure policy and better coordination to cut delays from land disputes and utility relocations. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-eyes-new-land-acquisition-rules-to-speed-up-infrastructure-projects-5448472
Government technocrats and ministers met in Kampala on May 5, 2026, to review the GKMA-UDP, which is 85% complete. Persistent land access issues have slowed road and market projects, prompting calls for standardized right-of-way procedures.
Uganda relies on Voluntary Land Donation (VLD), but without a unified national law, implementation varies. National Planning Authority’s Stephen Birahwa Mukitale highlighted rising costs from using project funds for compensation, warning it fuels corruption and is economically unsustainable.
State Minister for Kampala Kyofa Kyotagobye urged a policy shift, suggesting compensation only for restorations like walls or partial houses, not full land value. He stressed that roads boost property values, making donations beneficial for landowners.
Utility relocations pose another hurdle, often damaging fresh roads. Kyotagobye proposed a shared utility infrastructure policy, advocating pre-construction surveys and ducts for future pipes, cables, and CCTV lines.
Minister of Works Edward Katumba Wamala called for early design sharing with Energy, Water, and ICT ministries to reallocate utilities beforehand, passing relocation funds directly to them.
Kampala Minister Minsa Kabanda noted delays from procurement and right-of-way but affirmed projects are back on track. Annual inter-ministerial meetings aim to resolve such bottlenecks for faster delivery.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)