news 22 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Minister Balaam Halts Construction on Allegedly Grabbed Tororo Government Land
Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara has ordered an immediate stop to construction on government land in Tororo, citing rampant encroachment and promising to cancel fraudulent land titles. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/minister-balaam-orders-halt-to-construction-on-contested-tororo-govt-land-5605434
Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, has issued a stern directive to halt all ongoing construction activities on government-owned land in Tororo District. The minister’s order follows concerns raised during an inspection of public facilities and land, where significant encroachment on school, health center, and district headquarters land was observed.
The immediate suspension specifically targets construction on plots 18–25 within Tororo town. Officials report that this area was historically part of the land designated for the Tororo Central Market, which previously housed essential public amenities like a toilet and borehole before its demolition.
During his visit, Minister Balaam witnessed active construction on a commercial building situated on land allegedly titled under the Tororo Municipal Council. He emphasized that such land grabs are undermining the government’s capacity to deliver public services and warned that illegally acquired land titles would be revoked, with structures demolished. “Government land is for the people, not for individuals,” the minister declared.
He has instructed the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and District Police Commander (DPC) to deploy police to enforce the construction halt and apprehend any individuals defying the order. The minister also mandated the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to submit a comprehensive inventory of all government land titles and an update on government land within 14 days.
Furthermore, the CAO is tasked with collaborating with the Ministry of Lands to re-survey public land and clearly demarcate its boundaries to accurately ascertain the extent of encroachments. The suspension will remain in effect until this verification process is fully completed.
This intervention is part of a broader national effort to address widespread land grabbing and ensure the availability of public land for essential services. The District Chairperson, John Okea, welcomed the minister’s directive, acknowledging that the district has lost a substantial portion of its public land due to inadequate documentation and weak enforcement mechanisms.