Key land stakeholders in Kampala have agreed to establish a dedicated Land Management Think Tank, a move aimed at finding lasting solutions to the city’s growing land governance challenges. The resolution was reached during the Kampala City Land Administration and Management Conference 2023, held on September 28 at Mestil Hotel.
Organized by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) under the theme “Challenges and Opportunities for Kampala Urban Renewal,” the conference brought together policymakers, technical experts and cultural institutions to reflect on how land can be better managed to support the city’s transformation.
Presenting the proposal, KCCA Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka emphasized that land is central to Kampala’s present growth and long-term sustainability. She noted that without deliberate planning and protection, land-related challenges could undermine future development efforts.
Kisaka explained that the proposed think tank will serve as a forward-looking advisory platform, guiding policy decisions not only for today’s leaders but also for generations to come. She credited General Salim Saleh for consistently drawing attention to the strategic importance of land as a key factor of production and development.
The think tank is expected to unite experts and stakeholders to develop practical strategies for responsible land use. Its mandate will include combating illegal land grabbing, protecting public assets, and safeguarding sensitive areas such as wetlands, schools and health facilities that are vital to the city’s social and environmental wellbeing.
The proposal received strong backing from participants, including representatives from central government, the Uganda Land Commission and the Buganda Kingdom. Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs Kabuye Kyofatogabye highlighted land as the foundation for infrastructure, transport networks, green spaces and livable neighborhoods, calling for vertical development to preserve limited land resources.
Concerns about shrinking land availability were also raised by the Minister of State for General Duties, Henry Musasizi, who warned that free land is increasingly scarce and must be managed with financial and planning discipline. Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago echoed similar concerns, stressing the need to protect public land and questioning the leasing of land meant for schools, wetlands and health facilities.
Representing the Buganda Kingdom, Deputy Katikiro Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa underscored the urgency of managing land as a finite resource and pledged the Kingdom’s support toward sustainable urban development. As one of the largest landowners in Kampala, the Kingdom reaffirmed its willingness to collaborate in shaping a more orderly and prosperous city through sound land policies.
