Uganda's government is seeking an estimated 8 trillion shillings to acquire land for infrastructure projects under the Fourth National Development Plan, according to the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba. The funding request is tied to a new Draft National Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy 2026, which is in its final stages before submission to Cabinet and aims to reform how government acquires land, compensates owners and resettles affected communities.
The proposed policy addresses long-standing problems in the current system. Henry Harrison Irumba, the Assistant Commissioner for Policy Analysis at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, said the existing legal framework was outdated and fragmented, with the principal Land Acquisition Act dating back to 1965. He explained that the existing system has resulted in inconsistencies in land valuation, compensation and community consultations, often contributing to delays in implementing public infrastructure projects. According to Nabakooba, nearly 90 per cent of public projects are delayed by land acquisition challenges, and rising land prices and compensation disputes have become major obstacles to infrastructure delivery. In some instances, she said, the cost of acquiring land has exceeded the cost of constructing the projects themselves.
The new policy seeks to establish a harmonised framework that strengthens safeguards for project-affected people, improves compensation processes and restores livelihoods for displaced communities. It proposes harmonised valuation standards across government institutions, greater public participation, stronger safeguards for vulnerable groups and more effective mechanisms for resolving compensation disputes. The draft also provides for consultations involving not only household heads but other affected family members, particularly women, to ensure their interests are considered during compensation and resettlement. Additionally, it proposes safeguards for voluntary land donations and negotiated land transfers, particularly in communities where land is offered for public projects without formal documentation.
Nabakooba called for innovative approaches to land acquisition and valuation, including consideration of a betterment levy, a one-time charge on property owners whose land values increase because of public infrastructure investments. She said the final policy should provide a transparent and practical framework that enables government to acquire land for national development while protecting the rights, livelihoods and dignity of affected communities. The policy review began in 2017 with a regulatory impact assessment. Consultants were engaged in 2019 with support from the World Bank, followed by nationwide consultations and further reviews to align the policy with emerging land acquisition challenges and national development priorities.
The World Bank welcomed the progress, with Senior Operations Officer Fadzai Mukonoweshuro describing it as a significant milestone in efforts to improve Uganda's land acquisition system. She said an effective and predictable land acquisition framework was essential to Uganda's infrastructure and economic development ambitions. Mukonoweshuro stressed that successful implementation of the policy will require adequate financing, strong institutional capacity and clear accountability mechanisms to ensure land acquisition is carried out in a timely, transparent and equitable manner. The World Bank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Uganda in strengthening its environmental and social risk management systems as the country advances major infrastructure projects.