In a firm directive aimed at curbing illegal evictions and excessive charges on nominal rent fees, President Yoweri Museveni has mandated that landlords immediately cease evicting bibanja holders and refund any excessive fees charged.
Speaking at the 35th Heroes’ Day celebrations at Mpenja Church of Uganda Primary School playgrounds in Gomba District, Museveni underscored that such practices contravene longstanding agreements and laws designed to protect tenants' rights.
“The landlords who have been charging more than the agreed busuulu fees by the district must return it back, and if they try to evict our people, we shall arrest them. You must pay back all the money you have taken from these people and the evictions are illegal,”
Museveni declared, emphasizing the government's commitment to enforcing these regulations.The President highlighted that the issue of landlords and bibanja holders was settled in the Constituent Assembly and reinforced in the Land Act of 1998.
"We said a landlord has no power to evict a kibanja person especially the one who was on that plot of land by 1983. The only thing was to provide some nominal rent (busuulu) and that was to be fixed by the district land boards," he reiterated.
In a powerful call to action, Museveni reminded the audience that the 1995 constitution clearly stipulates that land in Uganda belongs to its people, restoring private land ownership which had been abolished under Idi Amin's regime.
He expressed frustration that many landlords continue to disregard these legal provisions, thereby fueling land disputes.The directive comes amidst growing tensions in Gomba District where landlords have been demanding payments far above the approved nominal fee of Shs10,000 per year. Gomba District LC5 chairperson, Mr. Kiviiri Geoffrey, noted,
"The approved nominal fees paid to the landlords is Shs10,000 per year but landlords have refused such payments leading to the increasing land wrangles in the area."
To address these ongoing issues, Museveni proposed that if landlords refuse to accept the prescribed rent, the payments should be deposited and managed at the sub-county level.
"All this suffering is not following what was put in the law,” he lamented.
Museveni also tasked the Resident District Commissioner for Gomba, Ms. Harriet Nakamya, to compile a list of all individuals threatened with eviction due to disputes over nominal fees and work towards resolving these issues with the landlords involved.
During the same event, the Minister for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Hon. Judith Nabakooba, distributed land titles to 446 people from Kanoni, Gomba, courtesy of the government’s Land Fund initiative.
This move is part of broader efforts to ensure security of tenure and reduce land-related conflicts across the country.
As the nation reflects on its heroes and their sacrifices, Museveni’s directive serves as a reminder of the government’s pledge to safeguard the rights and well-being of all its citizens, particularly the vulnerable bibanja holders who rely on fair land practices to secure their livelihoods.
