It was all joy as 400 residents in four villages in Gomba District learnt that the Ugandan government had paid off their landlord to allow them to settle on their bibanja (plots of land).
The 714-acre plot is located on Block 209 on plots 431,333, 315,307,409 and encompasses the four villages of Nkwale, Kasaka, Kitemu, and Kkome-Nsaasi.
According to Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba, the former landlord, Peter Wasswa, has been cleared and plans for land surveying are in the works.
“The Ugandan government paid him [Wasswa] all his money, and he is no longer demanding any single coin. The land is now under full control of the government in the name of Uganda Land Commission (ULC), which will soon bring surveyors to measure the land and do boundary marking,” Nabakooba said while addressing the affected residents on Tuesday.
However, the minister did not disclose the amount of money paid.
She explained that the Ugandan government paid for the entire process, and surveying would be free of charge.
WilberForce Rwamiti, the chairperson of Kitemu Village, whose house was destroyed during the land dispute, said he had given up hope.
“It was a big setback for me, and I am currently renting a room in Kanoni Town, where I sleep with my entire family. I am now happy that my land is going to revert to me,” he said.
Residents will only be required to pay Busuulu (annually nominal ground rent) because this is Mailo land, and Shs25,000 for registration to obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN), according to Nabakooba.
Rwamiti, the chairperson of Kitemu Village, whose house was destroyed during the land dispute, said he had given up hope.
“It was a big setback for me, and I am currently renting a room in Kanoni Town, where I sleep with my entire family. I am now happy that my land is going to revert to me,” he said.
Residents will only be required to pay Busuulu (annually nominal ground rent) because this is Mailo land, and Shs25,000 for registration to obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN), according to Ms Nabakooba.
She further noted that the land map would be pinned at every village for beneficiaries to check for their credentials before land titles are printed.
“The map will indicate the name of the owners, the size of the land, and where their land is located. I call upon the local leaders to mobilise people, monitor and supervise the entire exercise as surveyors will be doing their job,” she explained
Nabakooba asked the beneficiaries to cooperate with the technical team from ULC that will be sent on the ground to determine the size of the land.
She said those who had already sold off their bibanja to Wasswa are not going to benefit from this arrangement.
Yusuf Kironde, the Kitemu Village chairperson, said the land wrangles started in 2018 and some residents were forced to abandon their bibanja.
“Others reached an understanding with him and he bought some of their Bibanja, some part of their land was taken after promising them land titles,” he noted.
Wasswa, however, did not attend the meeting convened by the minister.
Meanwhile, Joel Kyajja Baduuzi, the chairperson of Kanoni Town Council, lauded the minister for her efforts.
Land Issues
In many districts, land is a contentious issue. The Ugandan government proposed land reforms in 2021 to combat land grabbing.
The minister warned landlords last month not to evict tenants. Tenants can fight eviction under the Land Amendment Act of 2010, especially if they have been paying Busuulu.
Landlords must obtain a court order to evict tenants and must notify them in advance, but some of these conditions are never met.
