The Ugandan government has warned landlords against evicting tenants from contested land during the current COVID-19 lockdown period.
Lands Minister Beti Kamya said government was informed of impending illegal land evictions of tenants on registered land and customary land owners on unregistered land in the country.
The districts where Government has received reports include: Kiryandongo, Hoima, Mubende, Mityana, Kassanda, Wakiso, Luwero, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Masaka, Mayuge, Napak, Kotido, Abim, Mukono, Kayunga, Wakiso, Kaberamaido, Bunyangabu, Kampala, Kiboga, Kyankwanzi and Mbale.
“No tenant by occupancy should be evicted from their bibanja or the land they are in possession of during the current COVID-19 lockdown period,” said Kamya.
She further suspended collection of annual nominal ground rent by landlords or the representatives during the COVID-19 lockdown period and emphasised that any land sharing engagements between tenants by occupancy and landlords are prohibited until after the lifting of the COVID-19 lockdown period.
“Any forceful engagements and /or impending evictions should be reported to the Police and other law enforcement agencies as soon as possible to avert,” said the Minister, adding, “Where a Landlord chooses to sell land to a different person other than the tenants during this COVID-19 lockdown period, the rights of the 3 existing tenants shall not be affected in any way and the old Landlord shall take the responsibility of introducing the new Landlord to the tenants for purposes of paying him/her busuulu, after the COVID-19 lockdown period is lifted.”
Cases of land evictions have been on the rise in recent years, leading to bloodshed and destruction of property.
President Museveni, while officiating at the handover Ceremony to give land titles to former Bibanja holders at Kirema Church of Uganda Primary School in Semuto Sub-County, Nakaseke District last year, directed that all Resident District Commissioners and District Police Commanders should stay the implementation of Court Orders which lead to massive eviction of lawful and bonafide occupants.
At that time, the country was not grappling with the challenges of COVID 19, which now bring in a new dimension.
Kamya this Thursday directed the District Security committees chaired by the respective Resident District Commissioners to assist lawful and Bonafide occupants to “remain and enjoy quiet possession of their bibanja and to suspend the implementation of any eviction order during the COVID 19 period, aware that Government issued a “stay at home” guideline, and with most Government officials out of station to intervene in the protection of lawful and bonafide tenants.’”
She said no land services will be availed to land owners or agents as no transactions are being registered by the Land Information System (LIS) during the lockdown period.
“These interim measures shall be implemented during the entire period of the COVID-19 lockdown to protect the rights and obligations of both the landlords and tenants on registered land in the country.”
