Railway evictions raise mixed reactions in Parliament
Transport state minister Julius Maganda Wandera told Parliament during plenary that about 3,000 acres of URC land, out of its 20,000 acres nationwide, have been encroached upon.
The eviction exercise, according to Uganda Railways Corporation (URC), kicked off on Monday, October 12, 2026, following a Cabinet directive. (Photo by Miria Namutebi)
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The Government's decision to evict people occupying railway land across Uganda has sparked mixed reactions in Parliament, with some legislators supporting efforts to reclaim public land for railway rehabilitation.
In contrast, others are demanding suspension of the activity until there is clarity on boundaries, land titles and the fate of residents facing displacement.
The eviction exercise, according to Uganda Railways Corporation (URC), kicked off on Monday, October 12, 2026, following a Cabinet directive.
Minister of Works and Transport Fred Byamukama later ordered URC to remove all illegal occupants and demolish unauthorised structures along railway reserves.
Over 3,000 acres encroached upon
Transport state minister Julius Maganda Wandera told Parliament during plenary that about 3,000 acres of URC land, out of its 20,000 acres nationwide, have been encroached upon.
Wandera informed the House that, however, some occupants would face immediate eviction because they had previously been issued notices to vacate.
While the Government insists that reclaiming the land is necessary to protect railway infrastructure and facilitate rehabilitation of the metre-gauge railway network, legislators have expressed differing views on how the exercise should be implemented.
Reveal boundaries first
Hussein Muyonjo (Jinja North Division MP,National Unity Platform) asked Parliament to halt the planned evictions along the Busoga railway line until the government presents documents establishing the legally recognised boundaries.
Muyonjo wants the Ministry of Works and Transport to provide gazette notices, land titles and survey plans to resolve conflicting accounts about the width of the railway reserve.
Paul Mwiru (Jinja South Division East) also questioned the Government's position, asking how authorities could claim an additional 20 metres of land in areas where people had already settled.
Mwiru demanded an official explanation from the Minister of Works and Transport, saying conflicting measurements of 15, 30 and 50 metres had created uncertainty among residents.
The two legislators asked the Government to establish the boundaries before proceeding with demolitions, arguing that residents need clarity on the extent of the railway reserve and the legal basis for the planned evictions.
Wandera, however, maintained that the railway reserves must be protected to allow rehabilitation and modernisation of the country's railway network.
He said the government held land titles for most of the affected areas and would engage communities before taking action, although occupants who had previously received warnings to vacate could face immediate eviction.
The enforcement
The enforcement exercise covers several railway corridors, including Kampala-Malaba, Kampala-Port Bell, Kampala-Kasese, Tororo-Gulu, Gulu-Pakwach and the Busoga Loop. Railway land in Butiaba, Masindi and other parts of the country is also affected.
In a public notice issued this month, URC directed people unlawfully occupying railway land to vacate and remove their structures, goods, materials and other property ahead of the exercise.
The corporation said physical evictions and the removal of illegal structures would commence on October 12.
The enforcement drive follows concerns raised by President Yoweri Museveni during the 10th Cabinet meeting on September 28, 2026, over the corporation's failure to protect its land.
“I therefore instruct you to evict all the people on Railway land and demolish all the illegal structures on the land without any further delays,” Byamukama wrote to the corporation's managing director.
The minister attributed the encroachment to years of failure by technical officials to safeguard railway reserves, saying developments along the corridors had created conflicts with rehabilitation plans and potentially affected public safety.
He added that the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development would provide qualified surveyors where railway boundaries needed verification or reopening before evictions.
No more leasing
Byamukama also ruled out further leasing of railway land for private investment, citing the government's renewed commitment to rehabilitating the metre-gauge railway.
Adding to calls for enforcement, Minister of State for Education and Sports (Sports), Peter Ogwang, urged the government to begin clearing structures within the railway reserve around Mandela National Stadium in Namboole.
Ogwang argued that developments along the railway corridor were affecting Uganda's image ahead of international football engagements.
He cited drone footage and discussions with Confederation of African Football officials as evidence of the problem, warning that the structures presented an unfavourable picture of the country.
“These illegal structures along the railway line are making our country look unpalatable to the rest of the world,” Ogwang said.
Meanwhile, the eviction debate also extended to Nakaseke North, where MP Wilber Ahebwa raised concerns about seven families in Ngoma facing eviction after occupying disputed land for approximately 30 years.
Ahebwa asked the Inspector General of Police to halt the operation, arguing that the court order being relied upon was contested and that the affected families' application should be heard before enforcement proceeded.
Speaker of Parliament Oboth Oboth said the President and Chief Justice were involved in the matter, while Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi said he had not seen the relevant documents and would consult the MP before advising on the case.