Mbale, Uganda: The Minister for Local Government, Hon Raphael Magezi, has issued a stern warning to district leaders over the illegal sale of public land, citing it as a major impediment to service delivery and infrastructure development.
Speaking during his visit to Mbale District on Wednesday, June 18, the Minister expressed dismay at the unresolved land wrangles that have stalled the construction of the new district headquarters, despite the government allocating Shs 1 billion for the project.
“I came here specifically to sort out the issue of the administration block, and what I have found is unacceptable. Public land is not for sale—it belongs to the people and must be protected,” Magezi said.
The land in question, located in Busoba Sub-county, was designated for the construction of Mbale District’s new administration block following the elevation of Mbale Municipality to city status in 2020. However, a significant portion of the land has reportedly been sold off by former district leaders, sparking disputes that have left the project in limbo.
Minister Magezi directed the District Land Board and all relevant authorities to urgently resolve the wrangles and recover the public land to allow construction to begin. He warned that those found culpable in unauthorized land transactions would face legal action.
“We are not going to tolerate leaders who frustrate development projects by illegally selling land meant for public use,” he added.
Mbale Resident District Commissioner (RDC), George William Wopuwa, welcomed the Minister’s directive, describing it as reinforcement of a standing instruction issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government in 2021, which banned the transaction of all public land and assets.
“This warning is a timely supplement to the directive we’ve had since 2021. I want to make it clear—I will not spare any officer found engaging in or facilitating the sale of government land,” RDC Wopuwa warned.
The meeting, held at the district headquarters, was attended by senior security and political leaders, including the District Police Commander (DPC), the District Internal Security Officer (DISO), the LCV Chairperson, and several councillors.
Residents and district employees have grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of a permanent administrative centre for Mbale District, more than a decade since the creation of Mbale City. The absence of proper district infrastructure has complicated service delivery, record keeping, and planning.
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