Nabakooba cautions public against forgery of land documents
Lands minister Judith Nabakooba has cautioned the public against presenting forged documents to fraudulently make land transactions.
She issued the warning on November 11 while addressing a two-day National Land Policy consultative meeting for Buganda region held at Ridar Hotel in Mukono.
“I have been told six out of eight letters of administration presented seeking permission to conduct boundary opening are fake. If they continue to do so, apprehend them and take them to court over forgery,” she directed.
In the workshop that was attended by representatives from nine central districts, it was observed that the most forgery cases are on the letters of administration.
Nabakooba noted that if such cases are not handled with care, they would cause a lot of problems in the land sector, stressing the potential to fuel land conflicts.
Similar issues have been arising in different parts of the country, with more than one person seeking boundary opening on the same land. In Wakiso District’s Bussi Island for example, locals were up in arms over different landlords coming up for the same exercise.
“Do not sugarcoat such cases because they are very serious. Forgery is a criminal case chargeable in courts of law,” she noted.
Representatives of the public in the first Buganda consultative meeting came from Mukono, Buvuma, Kayunga, Kampala, Wakiso, Luwero, Nakaseke, Buikwe, and Nakasongola. The second meeting will be held in Masaka City.
The minister noted that this revised National Land Policy will address pressing land issues to ensure they are resolved.
These issues are multiple overlapping conflicting interests on the same piece of land, absentee landlords who claim ownership based on outdated succession registers.
Others are climate challenge and continuous illegal land evictions causing tenure insecurity in the region.
She asked the pioneers of the National Land Policy 2013 review led by Ms Naomi Kabanda, Acting Commissioner of Land Administration, to ensure that the policy serves people’s best interests, foster economic growth, and protect our natural resources.
The Ministry of Lands is currently undertaking regional meetings to review the National Land Policy, which has been in existence since 2013.
Ms Nabakooba said the review process is aimed at leveraging land as a major resource that can contribute to economic development. She noted that the key element of the National Land Policy 2024 is tenure security.
She wants the policy to address land rights for both tenants and landlords.At the same meeting, the minister also cautioned district land boards against giving out government land, noting that it is likely to incur them losses.
“Government needs land but we realised most of the government land has been allocated by district land boards and once people get titles, they use it forever,” she said.
She added: “We are running out of land and it will be very difficult for us to get back that land. I have seen people who get freehold titles and they are now demanding compensation. You see the confusion that you are causing, where are we going to get that land?” she asked.
The revelation came after a lands official from Mukono Ministry Zonal office told the minister that they have land located at Block 542 in Buikwe District where Uganda Land Commission (ULC) owns the land with the title and Buikwe District Local Government has a lease of 99 years on the same land.
The ministry has been issuing titles but the exercise was recently halted to critically resolve the matter. Now officials at MZO are worried that public outcry is going to be so much.
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Ugandan Citizen Abducted, Held in Secret Detention for Three Months, Sparks Outrage and Calls for Justice
A disturbing new case of unlawful detention has surfaced, highlighting the ongoing human rights crisis in Uganda. A Ugandan citizen was reportedly abducted and held in a secret facility, known as a “safe house,” for three months, only to be released without charge or explanation. This incident, reported by NTV Uganda, has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed calls for accountability regarding human rights abuses in the country.
While the details surrounding the abduction remain unclear, reports indicate that the individual was taken without due process and held incommunicado—an action that has long been condemned by human rights organizations. The victim’s release, with no charges filed and no clear justification, has angered activists and citizens, who view this as yet another case of egregious abuse of power by the state.
“This is a recurring pattern,” said one human rights activist. “Abductions, secret detentions, and unexplained releases have become all too common in Uganda. These acts violate fundamental human rights and erode public trust in the justice system.”
The use of “safe houses,” unregistered detention facilities reportedly operated by security forces, has been a focal point in numerous allegations of torture and illegal imprisonment. Despite repeated calls from both local and international organizations for their closure and accountability for those involved, little action has been taken to address these violations.
This case underscores the urgent need for reform within Uganda’s security apparatus and greater accountability for human rights abuses. Observers hope that drawing attention to these injustices will spur concrete action to bring those responsible to justice and ensure the protection of basic human rights.
As frustration mounts, calls for both domestic and international pressure to hold the government accountable for such crimes grow louder. “One day, there must be accountability for all these crimes against our people,” stated one social media user, reflecting the sentiments of many Ugandans.
National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi has accused Ugandan security forces of using excessive force to disrupt a planned NUP gathering. The allegations were detailed in a statement shared on Twitter, following an event held to honor children of NUP supporters who were killed, disappeared, or detained for their political beliefs.
According to Kyagulanyi, security personnel, under the command of an officer identified as Asiimwe, carried out a preemptive operation early in the morning upon learning of the NUP’s plans. The forces allegedly stormed the premises, arrested workers, and deployed tear gas to disperse those present.
“The criminals under the command of one Asiimwe deployed early morning, arrested our workers, and threw tear gas into our premises. They’ve cordoned off the premises and blocked all people from accessing the place,” Kyagulanyi wrote.
Among those reportedly arrested were Saava Peter, Mudenya Samson, and Turyasingura Samson. Kyagulanyi claimed the detained workers were subjected to beatings and interrogated about their political affiliations, with security operatives labeling them as terrorists.
“These JATT operatives asked the workers who they support politically, branding them terrorists and criminals—their only crime being that they work with us. You can imagine the indignity!” Kyagulanyi lamented.
This incident adds to the growing tension in Uganda’s political climate, where opposition parties frequently accuse the government of stifling dissent. Despite the challenges, Kyagulanyi ended his statement with a message of defiance and optimism, proclaiming, “UGANDA WILL BE FREE.”
NUP Gathering Disrupted: Kyagulanyi Alleges Security Force Harassment and Arrests
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Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum
Sudan has demanded an official apology from Uganda over “offensive and dangerous” comments made by the chief of Uganda army staff, who threated to invade Khartoum, the Sudan Tribune has reported.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and CDF of the Ugandan army, posted two comments on the X platform on Tuesday in which he threatened “to capture Khartoum” with the support of the US President elect Donald Trump after he takes office. The posts were deleted later.
“The government of Sudan demands and official apology from the Ugandan government for the offensive and dangerous comments of the army commander,” Sudan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the Sudan Tribune said it has seen.
Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum