ENTEBBE, Uganda — Uganda’s Ministry of Lands, Housing & Urban Development has issued 57,325 freehold land titles to residents across nine districts as part of the World Bank-supported Systematic Land Adjudication and Certification (SLAAC) program.
The titles were officially handed over to the ministry’s zonal land officers during a ceremony held Monday at the Surveys and Mapping Department offices in Entebbe, Wakiso district.
Residents of Bukedea received 9,726 titles, Serere 6,606, Soroti 4,176, Kimuli 4,295, Luuka 488, Isingiro 1,906, Ntungamo 8,231, Kikuube 1,418 and Maracha 20,478 titles.
“We are working on 300,000 titles. So, this is just a quarter of what is expected of us under the SLAAC project,” Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba said while dispatching the titles to the respective zonal representatives.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to curb land grabbing and conflicts among citizens nationwide, according to the minister.
Nabakooba noted that only five regions have benefited so far, but plans are underway to expand the exercise to other parts of the country.
“Where unregistered land and interests are ascertained systematically, parcel by parcel, everyone, regardless of their socio-economic status, education, or literacy level, including the vulnerable and marginalized, is included in securing their rights under this highly subsidized government intervention,” she said.
Under the SLAAC program, landowners contribute 85,000 shillings (about $22 USD), with the government funding the remaining cost of processing the title. Nabakooba highlighted the high cost of land registration, stating that registering a single parcel can otherwise cost between 8 million and 10 million shillings (about $2,100-$2,600 USD).
The minister urged all landowners to embrace the exercise when they have the opportunity, underscoring its potential to reduce land disputes and evictions.
“Citizens need to appreciate the Government’s effort to ensure that all land owners acquire a document showing ownership and stay informed about how best to protect and use their land,” she said.
Following the handover, Nabakooba instructed the zonal officers to collaborate with their respective political heads and resident district commissioners to ensure the titles reach the rightful beneficiaries.
Richard Juuko, the Lands Ministry undersecretary, stated that since its rollout in 2017, the SLAAC program has covered 19 districts. He tasked zonal officers with ensuring immediate handover of titles to beneficiaries upon arrival at their destinations.
“We have given you these titles to ensure you hand them over to the beneficiaries. We don’t expect to find them in your offices,” he instructed.
Additionally, Johnson Bigiira, the acting commissioner for land registration, revealed that only 23% of Uganda’s land has been registered to date, expressing hope that the program will significantly increase this coverage.
