news 4 November 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)

Jinja Residents and Schools Face Eviction Amid Railways Land Dispute

Parliamentary committee investigates a contentious Uganda Railways Corporation land dispute in Jinja, threatening hundreds of residents and institutions with eviction. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/over-700-jinja-residents-schools-face-eviction-as-mps-probe-railways-land-dispute-5659088

Fear and uncertainty have gripped more than 700 residents in Jinja City as the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) moves to reclaim disputed land located within the historic railway reserve. For decades, families, places of worship, and educational institutions have occupied the corridor running from Nile Pier near Lake Victoria toward Namasagali in Kamuli District. This historic route was once vital for transporting agricultural produce like cotton and coffee, but today, decades of local investment stand on the brink of collapse.

A sombre mood washed over the affected villages as members of Parliament’s Committee on Physical Infrastructure and Works, alongside Jinja City authorities and URC officials, conducted a fact-finding inspection across the disputed corridor.

The parliamentary intervention follows mounting distress from displaced families and local leaders who are demanding transparency, a pause on the evictions, and fair compensation for those who legally or customarily settled on the land years ago. Lawmakers are currently probing the legitimacy of the land claims and the broader context of the URC assets management as affected communities wait anxiously for a resolution.