By Elijah Khisa
The Rotary Club of Nabbingo, in collaboration with the Rotary Clubs of Budo and Kyengera Town, as well as the Rotaract Club of Nabbingo, has launched a public sensitisation campaign aimed at addressing the rising cases of land grabbing and land-related disputes in Kyengera Town Council.
The initiative involved engaging officials from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to educate residents on land laws, policies and regulations to help them understand their rights and prevent conflicts.
The development came to light on Saturday, October 17, 2026, during a one-day land rights sensitisation workshop organised by the Rotarians for residents of Nabbingo, Kyengera Town, Wakimese, Mugongo, Budo and surrounding communities.
The workshop followed research conducted by local Rotarians, which highlighted the need to strengthen residents’ knowledge of land laws amid increasing land-related conflicts.
According to the organisers, such disputes can result in violence, displacement, destruction of property, loss of lives and prolonged legal battles, ultimately threatening peace and security within communities.
In response, the government pledged to strengthen collaboration with stakeholders, including local authorities and land sector players, through community sensitisation campaigns focused on land regulations, policy frameworks and conflict resolution mechanisms.
The Assistant Commissioner for Land Inspectorate at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Eunice Nabakwa, who represented the government, said the ministry was committed to conducting strategic community sensitisation campaigns to promote awareness of land policies and available mechanisms for resolving disputes.
She commended President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his leadership, saying it had contributed to an environment that promotes peace, justice and economic development.
The ministry’s Senior Communications Officer, Dennis Obbo, made a detailed presentation on the importance of peaceful coexistence among landlords, tenants and other stakeholders in resolving land-related challenges.
Obbo urged the public to understand the different land tenure arrangements and the documentation associated with them, particularly certificates of occupancy used in parts of Central Uganda and customary land documentation recognised in other regions.
He expressed concern over increasing cases of evictions, attributing some of them to inadequate knowledge of land laws among communities.
Obbo said the ministry’s offices were open to members of the public seeking land documentation and verification services to establish the legal status of their land and protect their interests.
Allan Ssesanga, a technical land officer at the ministry, encouraged residents to visit land offices regularly to verify the status of their land as a way of strengthening security of tenure and protecting themselves against fraudulent transactions.
Participants thanked the President of the Rotary Club of Nabbingo, Agnes Namiiro Mugoya, and her counterparts for organising what they described as an informative and interactive engagement with the ministry’s technical team.
They said the workshop had improved their understanding of land policies, legal procedures and the importance of proper documentation in preventing disputes.
In her remarks, Mugoya thanked the Ministry of Lands for responding to the club’s request and providing residents with vital information on land rights and legislation.
She said the initiative was a timely intervention intended to empower communities with knowledge of the laws governing land ownership and management.
The President of the Rotary Club of Kyengera Town, Cissy Zawedde, and her counterpart from the Rotary Club of Budo, Rotarian Wilson Nsubuga, expressed concern over the growing number of land disputes in their communities.
They said Rotarians were committed to promoting peaceful coexistence and helping communities address conflicts before they escalate into violence.
The two leaders also pledged to continue encouraging residents to join the Rotary movement and participate in community service initiatives aimed at mobilising resources for projects that improve the lives of vulnerable populations.
Moses Mwanje, the LC1 chairperson of Ssumba Cell, Kisozi Ward, Kisozi Parish, Kyengera Town Council, commended the Rotarians for bringing government land officials closer to the community.
Mwanje described the workshop as timely, noting that land-related conflicts were increasing and contributing to instability among residents.
He expressed concern that many families had lost land to suspected fraudsters who allegedly use money, forged documents and collusion with some law enforcement and judicial officials to facilitate fraudulent land transactions.
Mwanje said community sensitisation workshops were essential in equipping residents with the knowledge needed to defend their land rights through lawful means.
He called on the police and the Judiciary to strengthen collaboration with stakeholders, including local council leaders, to reduce the backlog of land-related cases and promote alternative dispute resolution, including dialogue, where appropriate.
He said stronger cooperation among government institutions, community leaders and residents would help protect landowners, prevent fraudulent transactions and foster lasting peace in Kyengera Town Council and surrounding areas.
