The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development is set to issue 10,000 land titles to residents of Hoima District at a subsidized cost, in a bid to address the growing crisis of land grabbing in the region.
Funded by the World Bank, the initiative targets residents in several sub-counties, including Kabaale, Buraru, Kyabigambire, Kitoba, and Buseruka. Under the Systematic Land Adjudication and Certification (SLAAC) program, each title will cost residents no more than 85,000 Ugandan shillings.
According to Sam Mayanja, the State Minister for Lands, all necessary arrangements have been finalized to ensure the smooth issuance of land titles. He emphasized that securing land ownership through official documentation will empower residents and protect them from land speculators and grabbers.
A team from the Ministry is expected to visit the district soon to sensitize local leaders and residents on how the title issuance process will be carried out.
Pius Wakabi, the Member of Parliament for Bugahya County, praised the initiative, noting that it will help curb the rampant land grabbing and forced evictions caused by wealthy individuals and speculators.
Residents have also expressed support for the project. Patrick Musinguzi of Ndaragi village in Kisukuma sub-county described the move as a significant step towards combating land grabbing. Similarly, Joseph Kyamanywa from Buhirigi village in Bombo sub-county said that having land titles will give people the peace of mind to settle securely on their land.
This effort follows a similar intervention in Kikuube District in 2024, where the government, also through World Bank funding, distributed 22,000 land titles in sub-counties such as Kizirafumbi, Bugambe, Buhimba, Kyangwali, Kabwoya, and Kikuube Town Council.
The urgency of these efforts is underscored by the growing number of forced evictions across the Bunyoro sub-region. The discovery of oil and gas has drawn an influx of speculators and land grabbers, leading to widespread displacement and tension in affected communities.
