A new parliamentary committee dedicated to land matters has been constituted, raising both optimism and caution among lawmakers grappling with Uganda’s persistent land conflicts.
The committee, chaired by Gyaviira Ssemwanga (Buyamba County) and deputised by Andrew Ojok Oulanyah (Omoro County), is expected to focus exclusively on issues of land grabbing, illegal evictions, and tenure insecurity—longstanding problems that have overwhelmed existing parliamentary frameworks.
“The Physical Infrastructure Committee, which previously handled land issues, was overburdened with work from the Ministry of Works and Transport,” said Ssemwanga.
“This new committee allows for a more focused and dedicated approach.”
Lawmakers across party lines, including Karim Masaba (Industrial Division, Mbale City) and Paul Omara (Otuke County), hailed the committee’s formation as a timely intervention in the face of growing land disputes across the country.
However, not all voices were celebratory.
Busiro East MP Medard Lubega Ssegona warned that the committee’s impact could be stifled by the entrenched influence of “untouchable” land grabbers.
“There are powerful forces behind some of these land wrangles,” Ssegona said. “If the committee is to make any real change, it must be bold, fearless, and unafraid to confront those interests.”
The committee is also expected to weigh in on a controversial proposal by General Salim Saleh to introduce a new land law. Reactions to the idea were mixed in Parliament.
Some MPs supported the call for legal reforms, arguing that the existing framework fails to protect vulnerable landowners.
Others cautioned that the proposed changes could create more problems than they solve.
“We need to be careful not to open a Pandora’s box,” one MP noted, reflecting concerns that sweeping reforms might worsen land disputes if not properly handled.
The debate underscores the complexity of land governance in Uganda, where customary tenure systems, historical injustices, and political patronage often collide.
Despite the challenges, Ssemwanga expressed confidence that the committee can make meaningful progress.
“We shall work tirelessly to ensure that land issues are addressed and that the rights of ordinary Ugandans are protected,” he said.
The committee’s effectiveness, observers say, will depend not only on its legislative oversight but also on its political independence and ability to hold powerful land interests accountable.
If successful, it could set a new precedent in Uganda’s long and troubled struggle for equitable land management.