By Jumah Kakomo
The government of Uganda has issued a stern warning to local council leaders over the controversial practice of charging a 10% fee on land purchases, a move that has been widely criticized for its unfairness and exploitation of landowners. State Minister for Urban Development, Mario Obiga Kania, condemned the fee during his remarks on the implementation of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Manifesto, labeling it a form of corruption that has fueled land grabbing across the country.
Minister Kania pointed out that the 10% fee is not sanctioned by any Ugandan law, policy, or regulation, and called for an immediate end to the practice. He emphasized that local councils, which play a key role in land transactions, have been complicit in selling and marketing land without the proper legal framework. The practice, he said, undermines the government’s efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in land dealings.
“This 10% charge is a corruption tendency that encourages land grabbing and is not in line with our national laws or policies,” Minister Kania said. He warned that local leaders who continue to extort money from people during land purchases would face action. The Minister urged leaders to focus on serving the interests of their communities rather than engaging in corrupt practices that harm the public.
The Minister also advised potential land buyers to exercise caution by ensuring that the seller is the legitimate owner of the land and that all transactions are conducted in the presence of neighbors to avoid future disputes.
The issue of land-related corruption in Uganda has become a growing concern. Reports have emerged of government officials demanding bribes and kickbacks from landowners during land acquisition deals, adding to the already rampant problem of fraudulent land titles and illegal land sales. Minister Kania’s condemnation of the 10% fee charged by local leaders is seen as a significant step toward addressing these corruption issues.
In a related development, Minister Kania announced that the government is planning to cancel all land titles in protected areas, such as forests, wetlands, and game parks, in an effort to preserve the country’s natural resources and prevent environmental degradation. This move follows increasing reports of illegal land grabbing and fraudulent titles in these protected areas.
“We cannot allow the continued exploitation of our natural resources. It is imperative that we take action to preserve Uganda’s land for future generations,” Minister Kania said. He added that the government will work closely with local communities and conservation organizations to ensure sustainable management of protected areas, emphasizing that the benefits of these areas must be preserved for all Ugandans.
The government’s efforts to tackle land corruption and illegal land deals have drawn mixed reactions, with critics accusing officials of complicity in land grabbing schemes. However, Minister Kania’s announcement is viewed as a significant effort to address these concerns, restore public trust in land management practices, and protect Uganda’s environmental heritage.
