KAMPALA, UGANDA — Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) has commenced an eviction and demolition exercise targeting houses, commercial buildings and other structures occupying railway reserve land, beginning along the Kampala–Kasese railway corridor as the government moves to reclaim land for railway rehabilitation and modernisation.
The operation, which started on Monday, October 19, 2026, is being implemented under a government directive requiring the corporation to recover railway land occupied by unauthorised developments. The exercise began in Kyengera Town Council, Wakiso District, with authorities warning that the operation will extend to other affected railway corridors across the country.
URC spokesperson John Ssengendo said the corporation intends to remove structures established within the railway reserve, arguing that the land is required for railway operations and future infrastructure development. He said the exercise would cover houses and other developments found within the protected corridor.
The initial phase targets the Kampala–Kasese railway route, passing through areas including Kyengera, Mityana, Mubende and Kamwenge before reaching Kasese. URC says the duration of the exercise will depend on the number of structures encountered and the progress made by enforcement teams.
The operation is expected to extend to other railway routes, including Kampala–Malaba, Kampala–Port Bell, Tororo–Gulu, Gulu–Pakwach and the Busoga railway network, as well as railway properties in Masindi and Butiaba. The nationwide exercise is intended to restore control over railway land and provide room for planned infrastructure works.
The corporation has maintained that compensation will depend on the applicable eligibility criteria and the circumstances of individual claims. However, URC has stated that occupants who have unlawfully settled on railway reserve land should not expect compensation merely because they have constructed houses or commercial premises there. The corporation has urged affected people to establish their claims through the appropriate authorities.
The demolitions follow a Cabinet directive issued in September 2026 and subsequent instructions from Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama to reclaim railway reserve land. The government says encroachment has affected railway operations and delayed rehabilitation projects intended to improve the movement of passengers and cargo.
The exercise has also raised concerns among residents who say they invested substantial sums in plots and buildings they believed they had acquired legitimately. Some affected occupants have called for dialogue with the corporation, arguing that the circumstances under which they obtained the land and the money invested in their properties should be considered. Parliament has separately raised questions about railway reserve boundaries and conflicting land ownership claims.
As the operation continues, URC is expected to extend enforcement to other affected locations while coordinating with relevant government agencies and security personnel. The exercise will test the government’s ability to restore railway infrastructure while addressing land disputes, communicating the applicable rules clearly and ensuring that any claims for compensation are assessed fairly under the law.
