Government Targets Shs8 Trillion for Land Acquisition in NDP IV

The Ugandan government has announced it requires an estimated Shs8 trillion for land acquisition to support public infrastructure projects under the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV). Speaking at a recent stakeholders’ validation workshop in Kampala, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Judith Nabakooba warned that rising land prices and compensation disputes have become major bottlenecks for national development.

According to government reviews, nearly 90 per cent of public infrastructure projects suffer delays due to land acquisition challenges. In some cases, the cost of acquiring land has actually exceeded the cost of constructing the actual projects, a situation the ministry has described as entirely unsustainable.

To tackle these hurdles, the Ministry of Lands is advancing the Draft National Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy 2026 to the Cabinet. Henry Harrison Irumba, the Assistant Commissioner for Policy Analysis, noted that the existing legal framework relies on the outdated Land Acquisition Act of 1965, which has driven inconsistencies in valuation and community consultations.

The proposed policy moves beyond monetary compensation by focusing on livelihood restoration, robust community safeguards, and harmonized valuation standards across government bodies. It also emphasizes wider public participation, ensuring that women and other vulnerable family members are actively involved in resettlement talks. Furthermore, Minister Nabakooba highlighted the possibility of introducing a betterment levy to charge property owners whose land values surge due to public investments.

The World Bank has praised the progress on the draft policy, calling a predictable land framework vital for Uganda’s economic ambitions. Fadzai Mukonoweshuro, the World Bank’s Senior Operations Officer, stressed that success will depend on adequate funding and clear institutional accountability. Additional details can be found in the original report on Nile Post.