MPs Grill Lands Ministry Over World Bank Project Title Delays

Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Central has raised serious concerns over the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development’s protracted delays in issuing land titles for crucial government projects, particularly those funded by the World Bank.

The Auditor General’s report highlighted a staggering backlog, with 196 out of 212 submissions for the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UgIFT) program experiencing delays ranging from 14 to an astonishing 1,419 days. The UgIFT program, a $500 million World Bank initiative aimed at enhancing local service delivery across 146 districts, was slated for completion by the end of 2025.

Committee chairperson Patrick Nsamba Oshabe expressed frustration, questioning the prolonged waiting periods for landowners and institutions. Ministry officials, led by Permanent Secretary Dorcas Okalany, initially cited incomplete documentation, especially from faith-based organizations, as a primary cause. They also mentioned intermittent internet connectivity as a contributing factor.

However, MPs challenged these explanations, demanding specific evidence of delayed applications and questioning whether landowners had been adequately compensated. The committee pointed out that a delay of nearly four years is unacceptable, especially for titles needed for daily transactions and borrowing. Concerns were also raised about potential corruption, with Oshabe suggesting that such delays could incentivize bribery.

Officials admitted that while internet issues could cause temporary disruptions, they could not account for delays spanning several years. The ministry has been directed to provide a detailed schedule of all delayed UgIFT titles, including the specific reasons for each delay, their current status, and projected completion dates. The committee also sought clarification on discrepancies in recorded transaction dates and information related to projects linked to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and UNRWA.

This scrutiny underscores broader parliamentary oversight on land management, following previous warnings about public investments being jeopardized due to insecure land ownership. Despite the delays, the Ministry indicated that approximately 75 percent of the affected titles have eventually been processed, allowing projects to move forward.