Minister Nabakooba: Government Land Inventory Crucial for Protection

In a bid to curb the rampant encroachment and fraudulent allocation of public land, the Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba, has emphasized the critical need for a comprehensive inventory and digital registry of government-owned land.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop in Mukono, Nabakooba highlighted that this exercise is paramount given Uganda’s accelerating pace of urbanization, population surge, and the increasing demand for land for various developmental purposes including housing, agriculture, and infrastructure.

“If we don’t do that, then we may never have land to protect,” Nabakooba stated, underscoring the escalating value of land as urban centers expand and rural areas transform into economic landscapes. She called for improved physical planning to manage urban sprawl and suggested a greater focus on vertical development in urban areas to preserve land for agricultural and industrial needs.

The minister also drew a connection between land-use planning and Uganda’s projected population growth, which is expected to nearly double by 2050. She urged local authorities to proactively guide development through robust physical development plans, particularly in rapidly urbanizing districts like Wakiso, where land pressure is intense.

Professor Pen Mogi Nyeko, Chairperson of the Uganda Land Commission, echoed the minister’s sentiments, calling on district officials and local leaders to actively assist in identifying and protecting government land. He explained that the inventory aims to establish clear records of ownership, location, and status, facilitating better planning for future development and investment.

Andrew Nyumba, Secretary for the Uganda Land Commission, added that the inventory would address fundamental questions about government land, including its ownership, size, use, and legal standing, while also identifying parcels at risk of disputes or encroachment.