President Museveni has directed landlords to stop the illegal evictions of Bibanja holders. He also ordered that landlords who have charged excessive nominal rent fees (obusuulu) must return the excess amounts to Bibanja holders immediately or risk being arrested.
Speaking at the 35th Heroes’ Day celebrations held on 9th June, 2024, at Mpenja Church of Uganda Primary School playgrounds, Mpenja Sub-County, Gomba District, under the theme: “Hail Our Heroes: A Secure Uganda Is Now Reality,” the President said the issue of the landlords and Bibanja holders was resolved in the Constituent Assembly (CA) and also in the Land Act of 1998.
It should be remembered that in 1995, a new constitution was established, and land rights were clarified, which stated that the land in Uganda belonged to its people and reinstated private land ownership. President Museveni was, however, dismayed to learn that landlords have decided to ignore the agreed-upon nominal fees paid by the Bibanja holders on their land and are going ahead to evict them.
According to Gomba District LC5 chairperson, Mr. Kiviiri Geoffrey, the approved nominal fee paid to the landlords is Shs10,000 per year, but landlords have refused such payments, leading to increasing land wrangles in the area. The President said new policies will be put in place to safeguard this.
He further asked the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Gomba, Ms. Harriet Nakamya, to record all those under threat of eviction due to the nominal fees and see how to resolve the matter with their landlords.
At the same ceremony, the Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Judith Nabakooba, gave out land titles to 446 people of Kanoni, Gomba, courtesy of the government through the Land Fund.
President Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), further revealed that they managed to succeed during the protracted liberation war of 1981-1986 because of the correct principles of the National Resistance Army/Movement (NRA/M).
