In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni’s populist push to halt land evictions has offered short-term relief but failed to address deeper land tenure issues. His 2013 ban on evictions, triggered by mounting public discontent, allowed some displaced people to return to their lands. However, widespread conflicts, including land disputes and land tenure insecurity, persist. The intervention also centralized power further in the presidency, sidelining institutional solutions like the courts. While it was politically rewarding, boosting Museveni’s legitimacy and offering a convenient crisis response, the move created unintended consequences, such as deepening mistrust in communities. With the 2026 elections looming, land evictions continue to dominate the national political agenda. Museveni has renewed his promises to halt land evictions. Nonetheless, experts argue that land reforms should be institutionalized and funded to permanently resolve the problem.
The Conversation
