The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, in the Cabinet of Uganda Judith Nabakooba has revealed that the government has extended the Land Policy Interventions programme up to May 2026.
Nabakooba who was speaking at the Knowledge Exchange Workshop in Entebbe on June 21 shared that the government and GIZ mailo project has resolved the landlord-tenant stand-off through the promotion of co-existence between landlords and tenants for enhanced security of tenure.
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Land Policy Intervention Programme is a partnership between the Ugandan government and that of Germany under GIZ working on Mailo land to ensure occupants pay a nominal fee ‘Busuulu’ to get legal documents.
The Minister said it is because of the outcomes of these interventions that the ministry renewed the implementing agreement between the Government of Uganda and German Cooperation to enable the continued Implementation of the Responsible Land Policy Interventions programme up to May 2026.
“This project has been seen as a model to solve the problem of legal evictions. Kibanja owners also get legal documentation as provided for under the land Act. Shared partnerships between Government and other non- state implementing partners has built the capacities of Government and non-government institutions in terms of professional skilling and programming,” she said
She added that in areas where they have provided certification of occupancy on Mailo land there is no more eviction and the landlords are also happy because they are receiving their Busuulu as they are expected.
Ms Nabakooba explained that good land governance increases access to land, access to improved land resources, increased production by farmers and increased income earnings thus leading to economic development and reduction of poverty which links with Uganda’s Vision 2040.
According to the minister, the involvement of traditional institutions and clan leaders, especially on issues of customary land, including land dispute resolution ensured that people had faith and trust in the interventions.
“This gives hope of continuity and sustainability of our land programs especially at community level. It is on this basis that Government appreciates the organizers of the Global Programme ‘Responsible Land Policy’ and the Global Programme for providing a forum and bringing together different stakeholders to support the implementation of Land Policies in Africa and the world at large,” she said
She added that the government has leant that securing legal land documentation in terms of certificates of ownership and certificates of occupancy has a positive impact on agricultural productivity and income.
“With such land registration opportunities, families have moved from the subsistence economy into the market economy as they have been able to use their certificates to generate income for themselves,” she said
The conference brought together experts from other governments and development partners from over 16 countries working in the land sector to share successful experiences, case stories, studies and best practices to be used in defining a way forward in land governance.
The project started in March 2017 and ended in May this year but due to the high demand the government agreed to extend the project for more five years and they expect to cover different areas which are facing the same challenge .
The project started in four districts where illegal eviction was more dominant and these include: Mityana, Mubende, Kasanda and Gomba districts
