The government has promised to issue out at least 391,000 certificates of freehold titles to beneficiaries under the Systematic Land Adjudication and Certification (SLAAC) program during the second phase which is ending next month.
Judith Nabakooba, the Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, revealed as she dispatched 44,425 land titles for locals from 13 districts in six Ministry Zonal Offices (MZOs) of Soroti, Jinja, Mbarara, Masindi, Lira, and Arua.
The event took place at the Data Processing Centre, Surveys and Mapping Department in Entebbe, Wakiso District on August 4.
“With this program, unregistered land and interests are ascertained in a systematic manner, parcel by parcel, everyone – rich or poor, educated or illiterate, the vulnerable and marginalized, are all included in securing their rights under this intervention that is highly subsidized by government,” she said, as she handed over 44,425 titles to head of Ministry Zonal Offices.
The 13 benefiting districts are; Bukedea, Soroti, Serere, Kamuli, Luuka, Jinja, Mayuge, Sheema, Isingiro, Ntungamo, Maracha, Kikuube and Oyam, with each direct beneficiary required to pay Shs85,000 government fees before they take the titles.
“If these land owners had been left without Government support, it would cost between eight and 10 million to register just one parcel of land, which most citizens cannot afford,” Nabakooba stated.
The titles being handed to Bukedea are 2,787; Serere 1,519; Soroti 1,279; Kamuli 7,458; Luuka 642; Jinja 494; Mayuge 3,260; Isingiro 2,978; Ntungamo 3,618; Sheema 2,733 and 8,728 for Kikuube. Maracha received 4,313 titles while Oyam got 4,616.
At the event, beneficiaries were urged to ensure they protect their land titles jealously and use their land productively to transform their lives. These titles can be used as collateral in financial institutions to access credits.
The minister asked the different zonal offices not to delay with the titles, but instead distribute them to owners as soon as they reach their respective destinations.
The Systematic land adjudication is an innovation of the ruling government sponsored by the World Bank to ensure that no one is left behind during the mapping and registration of land exercise promised in the manifesto.
Minister Nabakooba expressed the government’s commitment to ensuring land owners acquire their land titles in a significant move to curb land disputes and evictions.
“It is important for citizens to appreciate this government effort to ensure that all land owners acquire a document from government showing the ownership of their land and stay informed about how best to protect and use their land optimally without any threats.”
Additionally, she encouraged beneficiaries to utilise the Uganda National Land Information System (UGNLIS) in case they need to confirm their land ownership.
“I strongly encourage all land owners, local leaders and stakeholders countrywide to take advantage of the digitalised land services to regularly check on the land interests, as an means of promoting accountability in land management within the country.”
Mr Richard Juuko, the undersecretary of the ministry of lands, who represented the Permanent Secretary Mrs Dorcas Okalany, expressed commitment to expediting the mass titling exercise to meet the deadline scheduled for September 30.
He said despite a few challenges including internet and the exercise being new, they have been able to process these titles as expected.
“The titles are going to increase the tenure security. They are also going to foster growth of the banking sector.”
