The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Gen. Henry Tumukunde has ordered the immediate eviction of people occupying government land reserved for rehabilitation centres for persons with disabilities, warning that officials implicated in the alleged land grabbing risk losing their jobs.
Tumukunde issued the directive during a three-day ministerial retreat at Jinja Resort Hotel, where senior administrative and technical officials are reviewing the ministry’s performance, budget priorities, and strategies to improve service delivery.
The retreat, which he officially opened, is also intended to strengthen accountability and improve the ministry’s visibility.
Tumukunde warned staff against underperformance and working in isolation, saying his tenure would be judged by measurable results.
“We must do our duties diligently and impactfully. I will not sit and watch some staff underperform or do things their own way,” he said.
The meeting also heard concerns over alleged encroachment on rehabilitation centres’ land in several parts of the country, a development that officials say is undermining services for persons with disabilities.
The State Minister for Disability Affairs, Acan Joyce Okeny, said the affected centres had lost vital space needed for vocational training, shelter, and rehabilitation.
She cited Lweza, where permanent structures have allegedly been erected on centre land, as well as Rukungiri and Ocoko in Arua, where she said boundaries had been altered and portions of land fenced off by neighbouring occupants.
Lira was also singled out over alleged discrepancies in the declaration of land belonging to councils associated with rehabilitation services.
Acan said one parcel measuring more than 60 acres was reportedly declared as 30 acres, while another measuring 100 acres was recorded as 50 acres, raising concerns that the discrepancies could facilitate land grabbing.
“This land was reserved to restore dignity for persons with disabilities. Losing it means denying vulnerable Ugandans their only chance at independent living,” she said.
In response, Tumukunde directed the ministry’s Acting Permanent Secretary, Alex Asiimwe, to secure funds for fencing vulnerable government land, prioritising Lweza Rehabilitation Centre.
He also instructed Acan to formally notify individuals allegedly occupying the Lweza land of the ministry’s intention to evict them, adding that difficult cases should be referred to his office.
“Anyone illegally occupying rehabilitation centre land will be evicted without further notice. They should prepare to leave now before they are forcibly removed,” Tumukunde warned.
He said the government would pursue the recovery of land at Lweza, Ocoko, Rukungiri, and Lira, stressing that the properties were reserved to support vulnerable Ugandans.
The minister further warned that government and ministry officials found to have participated in the alleged illegal acquisition of the land would face disciplinary action, including dismissal.
Tumukunde added that he had received reports of suspected irregularities involving council land in Lira and Rukungiri, calling for scrutiny of the allegations.
The directives place renewed focus on the protection of public land designated for rehabilitation services, amid concerns that encroachment could limit the capacity of centres to provide essential support and skills training to persons with disabilities.