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UPDF starts training soldiers trained on legal land ownership

Col James Ssajabi (L), who represented Magamaga Barracks Cantonment Commander Brig Augustine Kyazze, awards a certificate to an officer at the pass out of 80 UPDF army officers who completed training on land laws and estate management in Mayuge District on February 4, 2025. PHOTO/DENIS EDEMA 

What you need to know:

  • Lt Col Mwanga urged communities to report officers who threaten them over land issues.

Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces (UPDF) have embarked on a campaign to train on handling land conflicts and ownership.

The officers are being trained on land laws and estate management.

“The training is very significant for the officers to get knowledge of land laws and estate management which they didn’t acquire,’’ Lt Col Suzan Mwanga, the Commandant of the UPDF Legal Training Centre (LTC) said on Tuesday.

Lt Col   Mwanga disclosed that some officers are ignorant regarding procedures of land acquisition.

“Some UPDF officers are using their uniforms and ranks in acquiring land in unprofessional procedures,’’ Lt Col Mwanga observed.

Lt Col Mwanga revealed that this is the first training for the officers on land laws and estate management and it will be rolled out to all UPDF units.

Lt Col Mwanga urged communities to report officers who threaten them over land issues.

She made the remarks during the Pass Out of 80 army officers who underwent a weeklong training on Land Laws and Estate Management under the theme “Fight the Course but not the person,” at Magamaga Cantonment Barracks in Mayuge District.

Col James Ssajabi (L), who represented Magamaga Barracks Cantonment Commander Brig Augustine Kyazze, awards a certificate to an officer at the pass out of 80 UPDF army officers who completed training on land laws and estate management in Mayuge District on February 4, 2025. PHOTO/DENIS EDEMA 

Maj Wako Wambuzi, the UPDF Chief Instructor at Legal Training Centre, lauded the officers who have exhibited discipline irrespective of their ranks during the training.

According to Maj Wako, the officers were taken through various acts of the Uganda constitution of land laws, transfers, letters of administration/probate, mortgage, land disputes, and acquisition among others.

Maj Wako said due to lack of facilities, they started with 80 participants but the number will increase.

Col James Ssajabi, who represented Brig Augustine Kyazze, Cantonment Commander Magamaga Barracks, noted that land is one of the main causes of conflicts in families and in the communities.

Col Ssajabi added that the training was very important for the army officers who lacked information and procedures of how to purchase land because some of them were using violent mechanisms including use of their ranks which is against the law.

“Land is a vital property but has been a major cause of insecurity in families and in the communities .The Army leadership therefore thought it wise to enhance the troops with knowledge on how to acquire land," Col Ssajabi said.

On June 29, 2024 UPDF soldiers killed five close family members in Mayuge District over land disputes.

Following the incident, the Division Court Martial Special Forces Command (SFC) sentenced Private Herbertson Birivumbuka to death by the Division Court Martial after he was found guilty of the crime.