Gulu's Shs6 Billion Green Project at Risk from Land Developers

Gulu City faces potential loss of a significant Shs6 billion World Bank-funded greening project due to intense interest from private developers seeking to acquire large sections of the Kaunda Grounds land. The Uganda Support for Cities and Municipal Infrastructure Development (UCMID) project, which is set to transform Kaunda Grounds into a cultural hub with a museum, amphitheater, and spice gardens, requires the city to hold a title for the designated land.

City officials, including the Landscape Officer Alfred Okello, have expressed grave concerns that delays and ongoing disputes over land ownership could lead the World Bank to withdraw the funding. Gulu City Council applied for a title for the entire Green Valley area at Kaunda Grounds two years ago, a prerequisite for accessing the UCMID funds. However, the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) has reportedly received multiple lease applications from private developers, totaling approximately 18 acres, which constitutes about 65% of the total land.

Leaders accuse the ULC of bypassing local physical planning structures by accepting and validating these applications directly. Arthur Owor, Chairperson of the Gulu City Land Board, noted a suspicious increase in applicants, from three in December 2025 to sixteen recently, including the city council. He questioned how the ULC processed these additional applications without proper consultation with the city’s land management bodies.

The ULC, in a letter to the City Town Clerk, stated that inspections had been carried out and land allocated to applicants, but this process was halted when the Gulu Land Ministry Zonal Office informed them of the city council’s interest. Among the applicants is NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong, who applied for four acres, though he has since suspended his interest pending resolution of the ownership dispute.

ULC officials argue that while applications have been received and processed, final title issuance hinges on comments from the City’s Physical Planning Committee. They are awaiting these comments to determine the fate of the applications and urge the city to scrutinize the developers’ plans to ensure alignment with the city’s development blueprint. Leaders are urging the ULC to expedite the city’s title process to safeguard this vital multi-billion shilling development opportunity.