Uganda Seeks Shs8 Trillion for Land Acquisition as Draft Resettlement Policy Nears Cabinet
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Uganda's lands minister says government needs about Shs8 trillion to acquire land for infrastructure projects under the Fourth National Development Plan, with nearly 90 per cent of public projects delayed by acquisition and compensation problems.
Uganda's government says it requires an estimated Shs8 trillion to acquire land for infrastructure projects under the Fourth National Development Plan, with land prices and compensation disputes now among the biggest obstacles to delivering public works.
Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Judith Nabakooba told a stakeholders' validation workshop at Hotel Africana in Kampala that government reviews show nearly 90 per cent of public projects are delayed by land acquisition challenges. "This indeed is unsustainable because in some instances, the cost of acquiring land has exceeded the cost of constructing the projects themselves," she said.
The workshop reviewed the Draft National Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy 2026, which officials say is in its final stages before submission to Cabinet. The policy seeks a harmonised framework for acquiring land while strengthening safeguards for project-affected people, improving compensation and restoring livelihoods for displaced communities.
Henry Harrison Irumba, Assistant Commissioner for Policy Analysis at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, said the existing legal framework is outdated and fragmented, with the principal Land Acquisition Act dating back to 1965. "The existing system has resulted in inconsistencies in land valuation, compensation and community consultations, often contributing to delays in implementing public infrastructure projects," he said.
The draft proposes harmonised valuation standards across government institutions, greater public participation, stronger safeguards for vulnerable groups and more effective mechanisms for resolving compensation disputes. It also provides for consultations beyond household heads to include other affected family members, particularly women, and sets safeguards for voluntary land donations and negotiated transfers in communities where land is offered for public projects without formal documentation.
According to Irumba, the policy review began in 2017 with a regulatory impact assessment, followed by the engagement of consultants in 2019 with World Bank support, nationwide consultations and further reviews to align the policy with emerging land acquisition challenges.
Nabakooba called for innovative approaches to acquisition and valuation, including consideration of a betterment levy, a one-time charge on property owners whose land values rise because of public infrastructure investment, and said the final policy should offer a transparent and practical framework that protects the rights and livelihoods of affected communities.
The World Bank's Senior Operations Officer Fadzai Mukonoweshuro described the policy as a significant milestone and said effective implementation will require adequate financing, strong institutional capacity and clear accountability mechanisms so that land acquisition is handled in a timely, transparent and equitable manner.