KAMPALA, Uganda — The Ugandan government has purchased 1,280 acres of land for locals in Mubende District, a region plagued by long-standing land disputes.
The government paid Shs4 billion to landlord Kefa Ssempangi for the land, located in Nabingoola Sub County, Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba said.
The acquisition is part of the government’s efforts to resolve land conflicts in the district, where locals have been embroiled in disputes with landlords for years.
However, locals claim Ssempangi had previously received Shs39 million from them in 2008, but allegedly lost the land title.
“We are going to call him to explain why he got money from you and at the same time came to sell the same land to the government,” Nabakooba told locals. “We shall see a way to recover your money.”
Locals also raised concerns about other land conflicts in the area, including allegations that landlord Paul Mafumu fraudulently acquired 166 acres of land and is now threatening to evict them.
The government is facing pressure to address the disputes, with locals seeking assistance to purchase land from landlords and resolve the conflicts.
The Ugandan government has established a Land Fund to provide financial assistance to lawful and bonafide occupants of land, but locals say more needs to be done to address the root causes of the conflicts.
Hope Grania Nakazibwe, the Mubende District Woman legislator, promised to advocate for an increase in the Land Fund budget to address the disputes.
