Understanding Land Acquisition Challenges that Have Necessitated the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2017

Compulsory acquisition is the power of government to acquire private rights in land for a public purpose, without the willing consent of its owner or occupant. This power is known by a variety of names depending on a country’s legal traditions, including eminent domain, expropriation, takings  and  compulsory purchase. Regardless 3 Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development www.mlhud.go.ug of the label, compulsory acquisition is a critical development tool for Governments, and for ensuring that land is available when needed for essential infrastructure—a contingency that land markets are not always able to meet.  Sustainable development requires Governments to provide public facilities and infrastructure that ensure safety and security, health and welfare, transportation (road and railway construction), social and economic enhancement, and protection and restoration of the natural environment (wetlands and forest reserves).