The Draft National Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy 2026 is in its final stages before submission to Cabinet, marking a step towards reforming how government acquires land, compensates owners and resettles communities affected by public infrastructure projects.
The proposed policy seeks to establish a harmonised framework for land acquisition while strengthening safeguards for project-affected people, improving compensation processes and restoring livelihoods for displaced communities.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ validation workshop at Hotel Africana in Kampala, 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for Policy Analysis at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, said the existing legal framework was outdated and fragmented, with the principal Land Acquisition Act dating back to 1965.
“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.
Irumba said the proposed policy shifts the focus beyond monetary compensation by introducing measures for resettlement, livelihood restoration and stronger protection for affected 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.
In addition, it proposes safeguards for voluntary land donations and negotiated land transfers, particularly 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 to identify weaknesses in the existing framework.
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.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba, said government requires an estimated Shs8 trillion to acquire land for infrastructure projects under the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).
She warned that rising land prices and compensation disputes had become major obstacles to infrastructure delivery, with government reviews indicating that 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.
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 World Bank welcomed progress on the policy, describing it as a significant milestone in efforts to improve Uganda’s land acquisition system.
Fadzai Mukonoweshuro, the World Bank’s Senior Operations Officer, said an effective and predictable land acquisition framework was essential to Uganda’s infrastructure and economic development ambitions.
“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,” she said.
Mukonoweshuro reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting Uganda in strengthening its environmental and social risk management systems as the country advances major infrastructure projects.
Source: nilepost.co.ug
