Briefly describe the history of land ownership in Uganda

The history of land ownership in Uganda is marked by several distinct phases. Initially, land was held under customary tenure, where ownership was communal and managed by traditional authorities like clan leaders. This system was significantly altered by the 1900 Buganda Agreement, which introduced mailo land tenure, granting large estates to the Kabaka, chiefs, and members of the royal family, while peasants became tenants. Later, the 1975 Land Reform Decree abolished mailo and converted all private land into leasehold under the state, though this was largely ineffective. The 1998 Land Act sought to consolidate these systems, re-establishing mailo and freehold while emphasizing tenure security for occupants and aiming for more equitable land distribution.