The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba, has urged judicial officers to exercise greater diligence and uphold the law when handling land-related cases, amid growing concern over unlawful evictions.
Nabakooba emphasized that the judiciary plays a central role in safeguarding citizens’ land rights and must ensure that justice is administered fairly, without bias or external influence.
“Judicial officers must carefully handle land disputes in line with the law, without fear or favour, so that we can put an end to the continued eviction of people from their land,” she said.
She warned that in some cases, the court system is being exploited by individuals seeking to dispossess vulnerable people who lack the resources or legal knowledge to defend themselves effectively.
“There are cases where the courts are used to intimidate those who cannot adequately represent themselves, and in the end, they lose their land unfairly,” she added.
Her remarks come against the backdrop of increasing land disputes across Uganda, many of which have resulted in forced evictions and prolonged legal battles.
Nabakooba stressed the need for a justice system that protects all citizens—particularly the vulnerable—by ensuring transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to the law in land adjudication processes.
She called on judicial officers to remain vigilant and committed to upholding the rights of Ugandans, noting that restoring public trust in the system is essential to addressing the country’s persistent land conflicts.
