9th National Land Awareness Week Heads to Bugisu, Sebei to Tackle Land Conflicts and Promote Sustainability
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has announced that the 9th National Land Awareness Week will run from August 25–29, 2025, targeting the Bugisu and Sebei sub-regions, where land-related challenges remain among the most pressing development issues.
Minister of State for Lands, Hon. Dr. Sam Mayanja, unveiled the program at the Uganda Media Centre on Thursday, saying the campaign will be rolled out across nine districts—Mbale, Mbale City, Sironko, Bulambuli, Namisindwa, Manafwa, Bududa, Kapchorwa, Kween, and Bukwo.
This year’s theme is: “Promoting Land Rights for Sustainable Land Use, for Inclusive and Sustainable Development.”
Dr. Mayanja pointed to a litany of challenges undermining the region’s progress: land conflicts, rampant grabbing, encroachment on Mt. Elgon National Park, lack of ownership documents, frequent landslides, population-driven land fragmentation, and displacement from natural disasters.
“The Land Awareness Week seeks to bridge this gap by creating a platform for Government, civil society, cultural and religious leaders, and the private sector to engage directly with communities, listen to their concerns, and provide legal, technical, and practical solutions,” he said.
The week-long initiative will combine dialogue and service delivery, featuring community meetings, probono legal aid clinics, regional council engagements, media talk shows, and youth-focused activities including debates, music, dance, and drama. Environmental conservation is also a core element, with a commitment to plant at least 5,000 trees.
Agencies such as the National Forestry Authority (NFA), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) will work alongside cultural and religious leaders of the Bamasaaba and Sebei communities to integrate conservation with land governance.
In a major innovation this year, the Land Information System will be opened up free of charge in all participating districts, with citizens guided on how to register on the Land Services public portal to access transactions remotely.
The minister underscored that the campaign is designed to empower groups often excluded from land ownership—especially women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable communities.
Dr. Mayanja closed his remarks with a call to action: “The Land Awareness Week is not just an event but a collective movement. Together, we can address our land challenges and secure a better future for all Ugandans.”
