Unverified: Can Ugandans Buy Land in Zambia for UGX 500,000?

CLAIM

Obed Ben, the founder of Youth Platform Africa (YPA), claimed during an appearance on 94.8 X FM that one can buy an acre of land in Zambia for as little as UGX 500,000.

The video was published on X FM’s official TikTok account and subsequently circulated across various social media platforms, prompting debate about the affordability of land in Zambia and the terms under which Ugandans can acquire it.

BACKGROUND

Youth Platform Africa is an organization that promotes opportunities relating to agriculture and land in Zambia. In the video under review, Obed Ben presented UGX 500,000 as the amount required to acquire an acre of land in Zambia.

However, the claim raises questions about what the advertised price covers, the location and tenure of the land, and whether buyers receive individual legal ownership or another form of land interest. These distinctions are important in determining whether the stated amount represents the full cost of acquiring an acre.

ENGAGEMENT

Although the video received limited engagement on X FM’s TikTok account, recording 42 likes, four comments and 13 shares, it attracted considerably more attention on other platforms.

For instance, a post by X user @BruceMusimenta garnered more than 173,000 views, 78 comments, 105 likes and 45 reposts. The discussion also attracted comments from users who questioned or defended the possibility of acquiring land at the advertised price. For instance, one user argued that the claim could be plausible, citing an alleged price of US$250 per acre for farmland in Zambia. Another suggested that land could be even cheaper because Zambia is geographically larger than Uganda. These reactions reflected differing opinions about land affordability, although the figures shared by commenters were not independently verified.

FINDINGS:

1. YPA promotes a Zambia land project alongside a trip

Youth Platform Africa’s website features a post titled “Zambia Is Calling: YPA Has Land on the Table and a Trip in the Offer.” The title presents the land opportunity alongside a trip, suggesting that travel may form part of the wider promotion.

However, the information available on the page does not establish whether the trip is included in the land purchase, offered separately, or tied to a particular participation arrangement. It also does not clearly establish whether UGX 500,000 is the price of an individual acre, an initial payment, a membership contribution or part of a larger package.

This distinction matters because a payment connected to a land promotion is not necessarily the full purchase price of an acre. We contacted YPA by email seeking clarification on the offer, including its price, location, payment structure and the legal interest buyers would receive. We will update this fact-check when the organisation responds.

2. Zambian law places conditions on land acquisition by foreigners

Section 3(3) of Zambia’s Lands Act, Chapter 184, outlines circumstances under which land may be allocated to non-Zambians. These include permanent residency in Zambia, qualifying investor status, written presidential consent and other specified legal arrangements.

A legal guide published by M.Mweene & Partners also explains that non-Zambians may acquire land through qualifying Zambian companies (which legally require a 75% Zambian citizen shareholding structure), registered cooperatives, and other corporate arrangements permitted under the Act.

The law also recognises leasehold and customary land tenure systems. Under customary tenure, land is administered according to local customary laws, while the acquisition of leasehold interests in customary areas involves consultations and approvals from relevant traditional and local authorities.

This means Ugandan citizens are not automatically prohibited from acquiring land in Zambia. However, they must qualify under the applicable legal provisions and follow the relevant acquisition procedures.

3. Can UGX 500,000 buy an acre of land in Zambia?

Some rural agricultural land listings in Zambia indicate that land can be advertised at prices close to UGX 500,000 per acre.

For example, Central Estates Zambia advertised a 5-hectare parcel in Kulamba Kubwalo, Chibombo District, for ZMW 30,000. Dividing the advertised price by the parcel’s acreage gives an approximate price of ZMW 2,429 per acre. Another listing for 100 hectares in Mushindamo District was advertised at ZMW 200,000, equivalent to approximately ZMW 809 per acre.

Using the 6 November 2026 mid-market exchange rate of approximately ZMW 1 = UGX 199.50, these figures translate to roughly UGX 484,000 and UGX 161,000 per acre, respectively. The exchange rate is from ForexInvestors’ historical currency data.

These examples show that the claimed price is not inherently implausible for some remote rural land. However, both listings concern large parcels in rural districts, and the advertised per-acre figures are calculations based on the total parcel prices. They do not establish that individual acres are available at those rates. The listings also do not establish the tenure, documentation or eligibility of a foreign buyer. They are asking prices, not evidence of completed sales.

4. The advertised price and ownership arrangement remain unverified

Although Youth Platform Africa advertises a Zambia land project, the available information did not establish the exact location of the land, its tenure, the full purchase price or whether UGX 500,000 represents the complete cost of acquiring an acre.

The evidence reviewed also did not establish whether buyers receive individually registered leasehold titles, contractual interests in a larger landholding or another form of allocation.

To obtain further clarification, we contacted Youth Platform Africa through email, requesting information about the advertised land, its location, ownership documentation, pricing and purchasing arrangements. We will update this fact-check with the organisation’s response once it is received.

METHODOLOGY

We reviewed the original video, YPA’s website, relevant Zambian land legislation and the government’s published land-acquisition procedure. We also consulted legal publications and reviewed available rural land listings to compare advertised prices. Currency conversions were based on the 6 November 2026 mid-market exchange rate. Additionally, we contacted YPA by email seeking clarification and supporting documentation regarding the offer. 

VERDICT: Unverified

The claim that a Ugandan can acquire an acre of land in Zambia for UGX 500,000 remains unverified. Available rural land listings show that prices around this amount are possible in some remote areas, but they do not confirm YPA’s specific offer or establish what a buyer would receive for the payment.

YPA’s promotion refers to both land and a trip, but the price structure, location, tenure, additional costs and legal ownership arrangements remain unclear. Before making any payment, prospective buyers should request the exact land location, confirm the type of title or land interest being offered, verify the documentation with Zambia’s Ministry of Lands and obtain independent legal advice.