Property Developers Endorse Suspension of Special Land Titles Amid Fraud Concerns

The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development’s recent three-month suspension of special land titles has received a strong endorsement from property developers and landowners. This decision comes in response to a significant increase in fraudulent activities, where the provision for replacement titles has been allegedly exploited to sell the same land multiple times.

Developers, represented by Mr. Festo Kasajja, have welcomed the suspension but emphasize that it needs to be complemented by robust legal reforms. “We are in support of the directive, but this should be backed by law to make it effective and minimise cases of land grabbing in the country,” Kasajja stated, highlighting the need for legislative action to ensure the suspension has a lasting impact.

The ministry cited the rising number of complaints involving falsified statutory declarations used to obtain replacement titles as the primary reason for the halt. Typically, special certificates are issued when an original title is lost, destroyed, or damaged. However, concerns have been raised that individuals are falsely claiming their titles are lost, even when they are held by third parties such as moneylenders or lawyers.

Mr. Abraham Luwalira, coordinator of the Bibanja Owners Association, shared an example from Mityana District where a landowner allegedly used an original title as collateral for a loan, then claimed it was lost to obtain a replacement, subsequently selling the land. Luwalira stressed the importance of thorough background checks and on-the-ground verification by the ministry before issuing any special certificates.

Stakeholders are urging for stricter verification processes for lost titles and advocating for legislative amendments to the Land Act. They believe that tightening the requirements for special certificates will significantly safeguard genuine landowners and potential buyers from fraudulent transactions, which have been a persistent issue across Uganda. Additionally, calls have been made for expedited handling of land disputes to allow property owners to utilize their land without prolonged legal battles.

This article is based on information from the Daily Monitor.