news 18 October 2026 Parliament of Uganda
Works Minister Mandates Railway Encroacher Evictions Amidst MP Concerns
Despite concerns raised by Members of Parliament regarding conflicting survey information and community engagement, the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, is insisting on the eviction of encroachers from Uganda's railway reserves. The Minister cited the National Physical Planning Act's requirement for a 60-meter reserve corridor on either side of the railway centerline. Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/index.php/news/4666/works-ministers-insists-evictions-railway-line-encroachers-despite-concerns-mps
The Minister for Works and Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, has reiterated his directive for the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) to evict individuals and demolish structures illegally occupying railway land. This action comes in response to significant encroachments identified across the URC network, which are impeding the rehabilitation of the Meter Gauge Railway.
According to the Minister, approximately 9,823 acres out of the total 20,807 acres within the URC network are designated as reserve land. However, an estimated 28,486 encroachment cases have been identified, particularly impacting the Busoga loop, thereby compromising the integrity of critical railway infrastructure.
Minister Byamukama noted that while URC has engaged with occupants, some have claimed authorization through allocations from State House. Despite these claims, no substantiating documentary evidence has been presented to the corporation. URC is actively pursuing land recovery through measures such as surveying, title protection, and litigation, alongside stakeholder sensitization and coordination with enforcement agencies.
However, the directive has faced pushback from Members of Parliament. Hon. Hussein Muyonjo questioned the discrepancy in the required reserve corridor width, recalling a previous engagement where a 30-meter reserve (15 meters on each side) was discussed with a former minister. He raised concerns about when the 60-meter survey was conducted and whether the community was consulted.
Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth has referred these contentious issues to the Committee on Physical Infrastructure for a thorough investigation, including a site visit to the Busoga loop and interaction with local communities. The committee has been granted 30 days to complete its inquiry into the conflicting information regarding the railway reserve corridor. The Minister also alleged that some legislators own land within these reserves, further complicating the matter.