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Lands minister Judith Nabakooba has warned against illegal evictions during the Easter season.

“As we move into the Easter festive season, I would like to wish all citizens blessed celebrations and remind you all that Government shall not entertain reports of illegal land evictions, at a time when citizens are supposed to be at home celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” she stated on X (formerly Twitter) on March 29, 2024.

Nabakooba directed all resident district commissioners and district police commanders to look out against any illegal land eviction order. 

The minister observed that many unscrupulous individuals use the holiday period to conduct land evictions well aware that most government officials are out of station and cannot intervene in protection of lawful and bonafide occupants.

“The District Security Committees chaired by the respective Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) are directed to assist lawful and Bonafide occupants to remain and enjoy quiet possession of their land and property,” she directed.

In 2022, a number of vulnerable people were evicted from land despite the minister’s directive stopping the same.

Among the cases was that of a family which returned to a razed house in Ntinda, a Kampala suburb, after Christmas. The land comprising LRV 2259 Folio 5 Plot 2A Commercial Road in Ntinda had a residential building under construction.

The property in question was bequeathed to Lucy Mary Orech by her husband engineer Johnson Orech following his passing in 1995.

The house was razed by unknown people using bulldozers on December 26, 2022 (Boxing Day).