MPs Divided Over Proposed Three-Month Halt on Special Land Titles

The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development’s plan to pause the issuance of special certificates of title for a period of three months has created a rift within Parliament. These special titles are typically issued as replacements when an original land title is lost, damaged, or destroyed.

State Minister for Lands, Hon. Harriet Ntabazi, explained that the ministry has received allegations of special certificates being issued even when the original duplicate titles still exist. She emphasized that such practices undermine the reliability of Uganda’s land registration system, which is a foundation for significant economic decisions by individuals, businesses, and financial institutions.

Ntabazi reassured that the suspension is not intended to penalize legitimate proprietors who have genuinely lost their titles. Instead, it aims to address systemic weaknesses and enhance security and oversight within the land titling process.

However, some legislators have voiced strong opposition. Hon. Sumayah Nabawanuka, Shadow Minister for Lands, expressed concern that the suspension could endanger genuine landowners and suggested a targeted audit of previously issued special titles, focusing on fraud allegations.

Other MPs, like Hon. Cohen Amanya, questioned the legality of the proposed suspension, arguing it might circumvent existing provisions in the Registration of Titles Act and negatively impact ongoing court cases. The fate of individuals needing special titles for loan applications was also raised as a concern by Hon. Richard Senteza.

Conversely, some MPs supported the minister’s initiative. Hon. Edson Rugumayo commended the move as a necessary step to establish better controls and address the significant backlog of land-related cases in courts. Hon. Amelia Kyambadde also welcomed the brief intervention, believing it will allow the ministry to streamline operations.

Deputy Attorney General, Hon. Jackson Kafuuzi, clarified that the law itself is not being suspended. He explained that while applications can still be made, the processing will be temporarily delayed as the ministry undertakes internal reforms.

Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/news/4593/ministerial-proposal-special-land-titles-divides-mps