The Government is seeking sh29.874b to compensate the kingdoms of Bunyoro-Kitara, Buganda and Toro for their land occupied by bibanja holders.

Lands minister Judith Nabakooba told New Vision on Thursday (May 11) that they need sh15.549b for Bunyoro- Kitara, sh10.00b for Toro and sh4.325b for Buganda.

“There is land that is occupied by bibanja people and valuations were done before we joined the ministry in June 2021. So, we want to clear those arrears,” she said, without mentioning the exact places where this land is located.

The minister said she had already presented this figure of sh29.874b to Parliament in the ministerial policy statement for the financial year 2023/24.

She said the Government has been using the Land Fund to sort landlords that are willing to negotiate with the Government much as the funds are limited.

“Government can buy land for its people using the Land Fund under the Uganda Land Commission. We have been using it in some areas and it has helped a number of people,” the minister said.

Nabakooba recently noted that colonialists distorted the land tenure by giving out big chunks of land to individuals now known as mailo landowners, where tenants and squatters pay annual ground rent fees, locally known as busuulu to these landlords.

“We are also going to engage traditional institutions with land that has people to appreciate the historical injustices created by the colonialists to enable us come up with solutions that will help the vulnerable tenants,” she said.