Uganda Launches Nationwide Land Audit to Safeguard Public Property

The Ugandan government has embarked on a significant national exercise, the Comprehensive Government Land Inventory (GLI), designed to secure state-owned land. This initiative seeks to compile a definitive national registry of all government land, addressing long-standing issues of unclear boundaries, incomplete records, and vulnerability to illegal occupation and fraudulent transactions.

According to Harriet Ntabazi, the Minister of State for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, the GLI program is a “transformational programme” poised to revolutionize how government land is managed. “This is not just about registration. It is about protecting the assets that belong to the people of Uganda,” she emphasized.

Currently, an estimated 23% of Uganda’s total land area is government-owned, but a staggering three-quarters of this land lacks formal legal documentation, creating significant challenges in proving ownership and defending against competing claims.

The audit process will involve several key stages. Initially, government institutions will coordinate, and existing land records will be gathered. Subsequently, survey and technical teams will conduct physical site verifications across the country to confirm boundaries and identify encroachments. This fieldwork will be carried out in collaboration with local leaders and communities.

Once verified, the data will undergo legal validation before being integrated into the National Land Information System. Officials stressed that the GLI is not a land acquisition program and will not impact private property rights. Instead, it aims to enhance infrastructure planning by identifying available land for future public projects.

The Uganda Land Commission will spearhead the implementation, working in conjunction with the Ministry of Lands, local governments, and other relevant agencies. The initiative is expected to significantly improve land management and protect vital public assets. https://observer.ug/news/government-launches-nationwide-land-audit-to-protect-public-property