Gertrude Njuba, the Senior Presidential Advisor and State House Director on Land Matters, has warned that rampant land grabbing across Uganda could lead to civil war if not addressed urgently.
Speaking to Bbeg Media at her home in Nangabo, Njuba emphasized that land disputes remain a top challenge for citizens, requiring immediate action.
“As a proud historical figure of the NRM government, I urge comrades to address land grabbing urgently. From what I see in my travels, this issue could spark a civil war that may be difficult to stop,” Njuba said.
Njuba highlighted the limitations of her mediation role in land conflicts. She noted that her inability to penalize or arrest offenders poses a significant challenge to resolving disputes effectively. [WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW]
Njuba, one of the first women to undergo military training during the 1981 liberation war, criticized land grabbing as a betrayal of the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) core principles and the reasons for overthrowing previous regimes like those of Milton Obote and Idi Amin.
She attributed the crisis to corrupt land officials who manipulate land titles for personal gain, undermining government operations.
She called for judicial officers to enforce accountability, as offenders often go unpunished. Njuba also urged government institutions managing land, such as the Uganda Land Commission, to operate independently to curb corruption.
Despite efforts to streamline land management, including the establishment of a State House Director on Land, she said citizens continue to face challenges in registering land, securing titles, applying for or renewing leases, and determining accurate boundaries, largely due to corruption linked to land grabbing.
Njuba stressed the need for stronger measures to protect citizens’ land rights and prevent further escalation of the crisis.
