The Ugandan government is finalizing the Draft National Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy 2026 for submission to Cabinet. The policy aims to harmonize land acquisition procedures and strengthen safeguards for people affected by public infrastructure projects. According to Henry Harrison Irumba, Assistant Commissioner for Policy Analysis at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, the existing legal framework is fragmented, with the principal Land Acquisition Act dating back to 1965.
The proposed policy seeks to address inconsistencies in land valuation, compensation, and consultations with affected communities. Irumba stated that the current legal framework focuses on compensation, whereas the proposed policy aims to go beyond financial compensation to include resettlement and restoration of livelihoods for displaced people. The policy also seeks to harmonize valuation procedures, strengthen public consultations, protect vulnerable groups, and improve mechanisms for resolving compensation disputes.
The policy review process began in 2017, with a regulatory impact assessment to identify gaps in the existing framework. Consultants were engaged in 2019 with support from the World Bank, followed by further consultations in 2021. The draft has undergone additional reviews and updates to reflect emerging land acquisition challenges and government development priorities. Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Judith Nabakooba stated that the government requires an estimated Shs8 trillion to acquire land for infrastructure projects under the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).
Rising land costs and related disputes are delaying public projects, with land acquisition costs exceeding the cost of projects in some cases. Nabakooba warned that this trend is unsustainable and called for innovative land acquisition and valuation strategies. She suggested considering a betterment levy, a one-time charge on property owners whose land values increase following public infrastructure investments. The minister emphasized the need for a practical and transparent framework that safeguards the rights, livelihoods, and dignity of affected communities.
The World Bank has commended the government for advancing the draft policy, describing it as an important step towards improving land acquisition processes and protecting affected communities. Fadzai Naome Mukonoweshuro, a Senior Operations Officer at the World Bank in Uganda, emphasized that an effective and predictable land acquisition system is critical to Uganda's development ambitions. She stressed that successful implementation would depend on adequate financing, institutional capacity, and clear accountability mechanisms.
Mukonoweshuro added that coordinated efforts would be necessary to ensure the policy delivers the intended results. The World Bank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Uganda in strengthening its environmental and social risk management systems. The policy proposes safeguards for voluntary land donations and negotiated land transfers, particularly in communities where land is provided for public projects without formal documentation.
The government aims to ensure that consultations extend beyond household heads to include other affected family members, particularly women, to ensure their interests are considered during compensation and resettlement. With the policy nearing cabinet approval, the government is expected to address longstanding challenges in land acquisition, compensation, and resettlement, ultimately supporting Uganda's development ambitions.
Key points
- The Draft National Land Acquisition Policy 2026 aims to harmonize land acquisition procedures and strengthen safeguards for people affected by public infrastructure projects.
- The policy seeks to go beyond financial compensation to include resettlement and restoration of livelihoods for people displaced by public projects.
- The government requires an estimated Shs8 trillion to acquire land for infrastructure projects under the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).
