KAMPALA: Members of Uganda’s 12th Parliament will next week undergo an orientation on land governance aimed at equipping them with knowledge to handle legislation, oversight and policy issues in one of the country’s most sensitive sectors.
The July 17 orientation, to be held at Parliament’s Conference Hall, comes as the new House settles into office amid persistent land disputes, illegal evictions and growing demand for land driven by population growth, urbanisation and investment.
The training has been organised by the Uganda Parliamentarians Land Management Forum (UPLMF) in partnership with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development. It will bring together Members of Parliament, government officials, development partners, technical experts and civil society organisations.
According to the organisers, the programme is intended to deepen legislators’ understanding of Uganda’s land governance framework and strengthen Parliament’s oversight role on land administration and policy implementation.
Land remains central to agriculture, infrastructure development, environmental conservation and investment. However, land conflicts, insecure tenure, weak land administration systems and limited public awareness continue to affect communities across the country.
The orientation will cover Uganda’s land laws, the National Land Policy, customary and statutory land tenure systems, land administration institutions, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
Sessions will also examine gender-responsive land governance, land dispute resolution mechanisms and measures to improve access to land for vulnerable groups, including women and young people.
Participants are expected to engage experts from government, academia, development partners and civil society on emerging land governance challenges and possible policy responses.
Charles Opolot, the Advocacy and Partnership Manager at UPLMF, said the orientation comes at a critical time as the new Parliament begins its legislative work.
He said the training would prepare legislators to debate land-related Bills, scrutinise government programmes, monitor implementation of land policies and respond more effectively to constituents’ concerns.
Mr Opolot added that strengthening MPs’ understanding of land governance could contribute to reducing land-related disputes, promoting responsible land administration and supporting inclusive national development.
The orientation has attracted support from development partners, including Oxfam, Pelum Uganda, Cordaid and ZOA, which have backed initiatives aimed at improving land governance and strengthening parliamentary engagement on land issues.
Stakeholders say the initiative reflects growing recognition that effective land governance is essential for sustainable development, food security, environmental protection and economic growth as pressure on land resources continues to increase across Uganda.