By Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has demanded clarity from government over whether the Buganda Kingdom is among the beneficiaries of a proposed UGX 347 billion compensation fund being handled by the Ministry of Lands.
The fund is intended to compensate various entities including ranchers, religious institutions such as the Kampala Archdiocese, and other private landlords for government-occupied land and buildings. But according to Ssemujju, it remains unclear whether Buganda, one of the largest public landlords in Uganda, is included.
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“Does this money include the UGX 160 billion that was approved by the government valuer for Buganda?” Ssemujju asked during a post-budget committee engagement at Parliament. “The Kingdom is owed over UGX 500 billion by government for use of its properties military barracks, courts, prisons and more but no clarity has been given about whether it will be paid.”
Ssemujju warned that failure to include the Buganda Kingdom in the compensation arrangement would be viewed as selective and unjust. He revealed plans to push for reallocation of funds within the proposed compensation package to ensure Buganda receives what is owed.
“If Buganda is not listed, I will propose adjustments to remove allocations from some entities so that the Kingdom is compensated, just like the others,” he vowed.
The Kingdom has for years rented properties to the central government some of which house critical institutions such as the military court, prisons, and various ministry offices. The government, through various assessments, has acknowledged this liability, with a government valuer pegging the debt at UGX 160 billion, a figure Ssemujju believes is just a fraction of what is truly owed.
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Ssemujju called on the Ministry of Lands to publicly account for the full list of entities earmarked for compensation, warning against opaque budget allocations that favor some landlords while sidelining others who have contributed significantly to national infrastructure.
“This is not charity. The Buganda Kingdom has been hosting government institutions for decades. If other landlords are being paid, Buganda must be paid too fairly and transparently,” he said.
The Budget Committee is currently reviewing allocations ahead of the 2025/2026 national budget presentation. The final decision on the compensation fund is expected to be made in the coming weeks.
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