Bugisu, Sebei subregions to host National Land Awareness Week

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The 9th National Land Awareness Week will be held in the Bugisu and Sebei subregions from August 25 to 29, 2025, State Minister for Lands Sam Mayanja has announced.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre on Thursday, August 21, Mayanja said the week-long campaign aims to tackle persistent land-related challenges in the region, including disputes over ownership and boundaries, environmental degradation, and illegal land grabbing.

Under the theme, "Promoting Land Rights for Sustainable Land Use for Inclusive and Sustainable Development," the campaign will cover nine districts: Mbale, Sironko, Bulambuli, Namisindwa, Manafwa, Bududa, Kapchorwa, Kween, and Bukwo. It is a collaborative effort involving district local governments, civil society, cultural institutions, and other non-state actors.

“This is not just an event, but a collective movement to secure land rights, resolve disputes, protect our environment, and lay the foundation for inclusive and sustainable development,” Minister Mayanja said.

The Bugisu and Sebei subregions continue to face a complex set of land-related issues, including high population pressure, land fragmentation, and a lack of legal clarity for customary landowners. Many residents also struggle with limited access to justice and land services.

This year’s Awareness Week is designed to bring those services directly to the people.

According to the minister, the central feature will be the rollout of the Land Information System across participating districts, free of charge.

Through this system, citizens will be able to register on the land services public portal, allowing them to access key land services without having to travel to distant offices such as the Mbale Ministry Zonal Office (MZO).

“We are bringing services closer to the people,” Mayanja noted.

“The Land Information System will ensure timely access and ease the burden on communities who often have to travel long distances for land transactions.”

Empowering Communities

The Land Awareness Week will also prioritise outreach to vulnerable groups, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalised land users.

Activities will be interactive, inclusive, and solutions-oriented, with a strong focus on public education, service delivery, and environmental protection.

Key activities will include mobile pro bono legal aid clinics offering free legal guidance on land issues, community dialogues, radio and TV talk shows, and public awareness sessions.

They will also involve tree planting, targeting 5,000 seedlings to promote environmental restoration, alongside creative platforms such as poetry, music, and drama to engage young people.

A wide network of stakeholders is expected to participate, including the National Forestry Authority (NFA), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

The event will also feature traditional and religious leaders from the Bamasaba and Sebei communities, helping to ensure that solutions are culturally grounded and community-owned.

Since its inception in 2017, the Land Awareness Week has become a flagship annual initiative aimed at bridging the gap between communities and land institutions.

This year, the Ministry hopes to deepen its impact by fostering greater coordination, enhancing transparency, and laying the groundwork for long-term reforms in Uganda’s land governance systems.

“Together with our partners, we are committed to building lasting networks that continue to respond to community land needs — even after the Awareness Week ends,” said Mayanja.