Land Fund Now at Shs92.4 Billion

By Francis Otucu

ManifestoWeek2020: As ManifestoWeek2020 continues, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has said Land Fund is now at 92.4 billion shillings.

This, off 42 billion shillings.

Betty live Namisango Kamya, the Minister, LHUD confirmed this while addressing the nation on the state of the ministry since the last elections.  

Land fund is a multi-purpose resource envelope envisaged to serve targeted beneficiaries, including tenants seeking to buy or own land, a government seeking to buy land for redistribution to bonafide occupants or resettlement of the landless, among others. It was supposed to be functional within one year after the coming into force of the Land Act in 1998. Other successes the minister listed are;

+ Acquired 33,036 acres of land from absentee landlords

+ Over 300 land titles were processed and issued to lawful and bonafide occupants in Kibaale and over 300 land titles to tenants in Nakaseke district.

+ Regularized the land rights of lawful and bonafide tenants in Bunyoro (Kibaale) and Buganda region (Nakasongola and Nakaseke).

+ Working with GIZ/Responsible Land Policy in Uganda (RELAPU) in Mityana, Mubende and Kassanda

+ The first ever batch of Certificates of Occupancy for bibanja owners on Mailo land for 200 households are ready for issuance in Kassanda (Myanzi subcounty).

+ Working with district leadership in Kayunga, assisted the tenants to acquire registrable interests for bibanjas

+ Enacted the Land lord Tenant Bill 2019

+ Working with Local investors to invest in housing development through provision of incentives like free land and technical advice

+ Completed Infrastructure projects in 14 USMID Municipal LGs of Arua, Gulu, Lira, Soroti, Tororo, Mbale, Moroto, Fort Portal, Hoima, Kabale, Masaka, Jinja, Mbarara and Entebbe

+ Issued housing standards for buildings to cater for the persons with disabilities and the older persons.

+ Amended the Physical Planning Act.

+ Empowered subcounty chiefs to supervise physical development in their respective areas.

+ Identified land for housing development in the following districts: Buliisa, Masindi, Hoima, Kiryandongo, Nwoya, Gulu, Nebbi, Arua, Zombo, Mbarara, Masaka, Jinja and Mbale.

+ Formulated the National Urban Policy, 2017

+ Urban Development Law.

+ Uganda’s first National Physical Development Plan has been finalized

+ Prepared Albertine Grabben Physical Development Plan, to guide developments and settlements in the region.

+ Supported preparation of District Physical Development Plans.

+ 22 Ministry Zonal Offices (MZOs) established (services closer to the people).

+ All Freeholds, Leaseholds and Mailo titles digitalized.

+ Certificates of Customary Ownership (CCOs) digitalized.

+ Built a Records and Archival Centre at Entebbe.

+ Held Public Awareness Open days in partnership with CSOs.

+ Developed and disseminated land related information materials.

+ Established a One-stop Centre where search letters are issued in less than 2 hours.