Govt seeks sh171b to compensate absentee landlords

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The Government is seeking shillings 171.9 billion to compensate absentee landlords across the country to protect tenants and squatters from eviction, MPs have heard.

Of this amount, an additional sh60b was provided in the budget estimates for the financial year 2025/26, leaving a shortfall of shillings 111 billion.

This is contained in the report of the parliamentary committee on physical infrastructure on the budget estimates and ministerial policy statements for the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Ministry of Lands for the financial year 2025/2026.

The committee, which is chaired by Dan Atwijukire Kimosho, the MP for Kazo County, noted with concern that the compensation of absentee landlords remains a challenge due to inadequate funding to the Uganda Land Commission (ULC).

“This has resulted in litigation, court awards and cases, eviction of lawful and bona fide occupants, increased domestic arrears and loss of public trust in the Government,” says the report, which is now in the Office of the Clerk to Parliament for presentation in the House.

The approved budget for ULC for the financial year 2024/25 amounted to shillings 24.362 billion, of which 57.8% was released and 16.9% releases were spent.

However, the committee heard that low expenditure was mainly on account of the Government of Uganda which had 59.1% released but none of the funds were spent.

Lands minister Judith Nabakooba told New Vision early last year that the Government had so far paid shillings 75 billion to over 450 landlords across the country.

The landlords were all fully paid for the land measuring 81,879.44 hectares by the ULC using the Land Fund.

Among the notable landlords on the national list include the Omukama (king) of Bunyoro, Solomon Gafabusa Iguru, who was paid shillings 2.3 billion for his 776.21 hectares in Buyaga, and Toro Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, who got over sh3b for her 6026 hectares in Kyaka, Burahya and Bunyangabu counties in Kabarole district.

Kemigisa was also paid sh101m for her land in Kibale, measuring 637 hectares.

Others are the late Prince John Barigye of Ankole Kingdom, who was paid over shillings 251 million for his land in Isingiro, Kashari and Igara counties, and Bukianga North MP Nathan Byanyima, who was paid over shillings 127 million for his land in Isingiro.

Nabakooba asked landlords who wished to sell their land to the Government to apply officially, expressing interest and cautioned the public against land fragmentation, advocating for the utilisation of land as a family to increase their production.