Parliamentarians Urged to Strengthen Land Governance Oversight

Parliamentarians in Uganda have been urged to take a leading role in reforming land governance to safeguard citizens’ property rights and stimulate the nation’s economic growth. The appeal was made during a recent orientation on land governance, organized by the Uganda Parliamentarians Land Management Forum in collaboration with several key government and non-governmental organizations, including the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, OXFAM Uganda, and Cordaid International.

The orientation aimed to deepen legislators’ understanding of land administration, relevant laws, and their oversight duties. Jesca Ababiku, a Parliament Commissioner representing the Speaker, emphasized the critical importance of land as a national asset. She urged lawmakers to leverage their positions to protect public interests, noting that land disputes constitute a significant portion of court cases, threatening the security of vulnerable citizens.

The Speaker’s message highlighted that land is fundamental to livelihoods, dignity, and opportunity, underpinning investment and national development. Legislators were encouraged to apply the insights gained from the orientation to strengthen existing laws and enhance oversight mechanisms, ensuring their work directly addresses constituents’ problems and moves Uganda closer to justice and opportunity.

Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba, acknowledged that despite a robust legal framework, Uganda faces persistent land conflicts, illegal evictions, land grabbing, and corruption. She stressed the need for increased public awareness of land rights and advocated for viewing land as an economic enabler for development. The Minister also detailed progress in decentralizing land services and digitizing records to improve accessibility and efficiency.

Looking forward, Nabakooba called for parliamentary support for crucial legislative reforms, including the Real Estate Bill and amendments to several other land-related acts. These reforms are intended to close legal and institutional gaps, enhance regulation, combat fraud, and ensure that Uganda’s land laws adapt to evolving national needs.

Source: https://www.howwe.ug/news/national/43322/strengthen-oversight-on-land-governance-speaker