Uganda Launches Nationwide Land Audit to Safeguard Public Property

The Ugandan government has embarked on a significant nationwide exercise, the Comprehensive Government Land Inventory (GLI), to meticulously catalogue all public land. This ambitious undertaking seeks to protect state assets from illegal occupation, fraudulent transactions, and ownership conflicts.

Currently, a substantial portion of government land, estimated at 23% of Uganda’s total land area, lacks formal documentation, with nearly three-quarters of it not possessing land titles. This vulnerability has led to numerous disputes and encroachment on land intended for public institutions like schools, hospitals, and forests.

Minister of State for Lands, Harriet Ntabazi, described the GLI as a “transformational programme” that will establish the country’s first national database of government-owned land. This central registry will clarify what the state owns, its location, and ensure its proper management.

The inventory process will involve several phases, starting with inter-institutional coordination and existing record collection, followed by physical verification by surveyors and land officers. These teams will confirm boundaries and identify any encroachments.

Officials emphasize that the GLI is not a land acquisition initiative and will not infringe upon private property rights. The focus is strictly on identifying and documenting land already under government ownership or management.

The Uganda Land Commission will spearhead the implementation, collaborating with the Ministry of Lands and other relevant government agencies. Beyond safeguarding assets, the GLI is expected to enhance infrastructure planning by identifying available land for future public projects.

Source: https://observer.ug/news/government-launches-nationwide-land-audit-to-protect-public-property