Kampala city authority instructed to reclaim unlawfully occupied land.
Among the 184 parcels of land, totaling approximately 184.818 hectares, that were under the entity’s ownership, 48 parcels measuring roughly 37,755 hectares lacked proper land titles.
The Public Accounts Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) has put forth a recommendation that the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) take immediate action to protect and reclaim its land from encroachment by residents. The committee’s observations and report, presented by Chairperson Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi during a plenary sitting on July 6, 2023, were based on the findings of the Auditor General’s report on KCCA’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
According to Hon. Ssenyonyi, out of the 242 parcels of land spanning approximately 184.818 hectares under KCCA’s ownership, 24 parcels measuring around 36.79 hectares and valued at Shs34.664 billion had been encroached upon by the local population. Notably, Nakalama and Kasenge, acquired by KCCA in 1997 for landfill construction, were among the most affected areas, with approximately 64.4 acres (about 26 hectares) occupied by squatters.
KCCA has been involved in a civil suit against the squatters, led by Yosta Masengere & Others, since 2015. The report also highlighted encroachments on KCCA-owned land in Kyanja, where a demonstration farm exists but is plagued by squatters engaged in brick-making activities, and in Lusaze, which houses a filled cemetery.
To address these issues, Hon. Ssenyonyi emphasized the committee’s recommendation that KCCA management take steps to secure possession of its land and closely monitor the ongoing court proceedings to resolve third-party claims, ensuring uninterrupted utilization of land for service delivery.
The Auditor General’s report further revealed that out of the 184 parcels of land, totaling approximately 184.818 hectares, held by KCCA, 48 parcels measuring about 37,755 hectares did not possess land titles. COSASE recommended that the Auditor General include an audit of all KCCA land in the subsequent audit.
During the debate, Hon. Anna Adeke expressed concerns about the lack of land titles despite KCCA having a land management unit, legal department, and Executive Director. She suggested that some individuals may be benefiting from the untitled land. Hon. Noah Mutebi pointed out that the land in question falls under the jurisdiction of the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) and called for a thorough investigation into both KCCA and ULC to identify appropriate remedies for the issue.
Notably, Hon. Minsa Kabanda, the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, and her deputy, Hon. Kyofatogabye Kabuye, were unavailable during the debate to respond to the concerns raised in the report.
