MUKONO — Mukono District authorities have intensified a crackdown on real estate companies and village leaders involved in the illegal sale of undersized plots of land, warning that the practice is driving unplanned settlements and violating physical planning regulations.
Officials say some land dealers have been subdividing and selling plots as small as 20 by 30 feet and 20 by 50 feet, particularly in Nakifuma, Kasawo, Kimenyede and Kyampisi sub-counties.
District leaders argue that such transactions are contributing to congestion, poor infrastructure planning and encroachment on environmentally sensitive areas, including wetlands.
The concerns were raised during a meeting where Latitude Consult Limited presented progress on the district’s Physical Development Plan, which aims to guide structured urban growth and infrastructure development across Mukono.
Nakifuma-Nagalama Town Clerk Kizito Walubi called for stronger collaboration with the judiciary to help enforce the law against illegal land transactions.
“We need the judiciary to work with us in enforcing the law against those who continue to sell illegal plots. Without coordinated action, the problem will persist,” Walubi said.
Mukono District Physical Planner Hamuza Kamoga said the district’s rapid expansion without a proper development framework had resulted in disorderly settlements and environmental degradation.
He noted that the new Physical Development Plan is expected to address these challenges by promoting orderly land use and sustainable urban growth.
Kamoga also directed town clerks to closely monitor land transactions by ensuring all sale agreements are registered at village level, adding that monthly compliance checks would be conducted.
“All town clerks must ensure that land sale agreements are registered at the village level. We shall conduct monthly assessments, and anyone found involved in illegal land transactions will be prosecuted,” he said.
The Principal Assistant Chief Administrative Officer of Mukono District, Daniel Kamara, said the Physical Planning Act prohibits the sale of inadequately sized plots and warned against continued violations.
He also criticised media houses for advertising illegal plots and urged the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to step in.
“UCC should take action against media platforms that advertise illegal plots because such advertisements mislead the public and encourage violations of the law,” Kamara said.
He further urged local leaders to sensitise communities about the risks of buying undersized plots and land in wetlands, warning that buyers risk losing their investments.
“If village leaders or real estate dealers are found breaking the law, they should be arrested and reported to the police,” he added.
However, Ambrose Buyinza, a physical planner with Latitude Consult, said enforcement remains complicated due to gaps in legislation, noting that there is no specific law prohibiting individuals from purchasing small plots.
“The challenge is that there is no specific law prohibiting someone from purchasing a small plot, which makes enforcement difficult in some cases,” Buyinza said.
Despite the challenge, he expressed optimism that existing legal frameworks could still be used to regulate illegal subdivision and land sales.
Officials say about 20 land-selling companies are currently operating in Nakifuma, with plots reportedly selling between Shs500,000 and Shs1 million, attracting high demand from buyers despite the regulatory concerns.
Authorities have pledged to continue enforcement as part of efforts to restore order in land use and curb the spread of unplanned settlements in Mukono District.