Government Cracks Down on Unlawful Land Evictions, Halts Special Titles

The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in Uganda has implemented stricter regulations aimed at curbing the rampant issue of unlawful land evictions and demolitions. The new directive, effective immediately, prohibits government officials, security agencies, surveyors, and private entities from intervening in land disputes without adhering to a formal, documented legal process.

Minister Judith Nabakooba stated that evictions and demolitions on contested land must now be solely based on a verifiable court order obtained through due process. This measure seeks to mitigate violence, property destruction, intimidation, and insecurity that often accompany land disputes, thereby easing the burden on courts and law enforcement. Unlawful interventions based on mere influence, verbal instructions, or unverified documents will no longer be tolerated.

Security forces are specifically directed not to deploy to influence land possession or ownership. Their role should be limited to intervening in cases of violence or threats to life to protect individuals and preserve evidence. Government officials and political leaders are also required to coordinate any visits to disputed land through district or city security committees, preventing arbitrary actions.

Furthermore, the ministry has suspended the issuance of special certificates of title for lost or damaged land titles for a period of three months. This suspension is a response to widespread concerns about fraud, corruption, and manipulation within the process of obtaining replacement titles. The ministry plans to use this period to investigate reported abuses, strengthen verification procedures, and introduce enhanced safeguards to protect the integrity of land records.

The Ministry of Lands also revealed that it receives approximately 20 to 30 complaints weekly concerning land grabbing and illegal evictions, underscoring the urgency of these new measures. A dispute resolution desk will be established to centralize and manage eligible complaints effectively.