By Eye Media | Kampala | Thursday, July 16, 2026

The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has temporarily suspended Local Council I (LC I) chairpersons who are currently seeking re-election from participating in land-related transactions until the ongoing village elections are concluded.

In a public notice issued on Thursday, July 16, 2026, the ministry directed all campaigning LC I chairpersons to immediately refrain from witnessing, endorsing, recommending or overseeing any land-related transactions.

The ministry said the directive is intended to safeguard the integrity of land transactions during the election period and minimize the risk of disputes, fraud and other irregularities.

“All LC I Chairpersons who are currently campaigning are advised to refrain from participating in, witnessing, endorsing, recommending, or overseeing any land-related transactions until the electoral process has been concluded,” the notice reads in part.

The ministry further advised members of the public to avoid relying on campaigning LC I chairpersons for land matters, including the sale or purchase of land, witnessing land agreements, boundary-related disputes, land ownership verification and any other transaction requiring local administrative involvement.

According to the ministry, individuals with urgent land matters should instead seek the services of qualified legal practitioners or use other lawful channels until the election process is completed.

The directive comes amid growing concerns over land fraud and allegations that some local leaders exploit election periods to influence land transactions and ownership disputes.

Land conflicts remain one of the leading causes of disputes in Uganda, with local leaders often playing a key role in witnessing agreements and verifying ownership.

Officials fear that the ongoing election campaigns could create conflicts of interest and expose vulnerable landowners to fraud and manipulation.

The ministry said the temporary suspension is a precautionary measure aimed at preventing costly mistakes and protecting the interests of all parties involved in land transactions.

The Ministry of Lands thanked the public for their cooperation and urged Ugandans to exercise patience until the LC I elections are concluded.

The latest directive means that until the electoral process is over, campaigning LC I chairpersons will not be permitted to participate in any official land-related transactions in their respective villages.