environment 13 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Govt Revokes 50 Illegal Freehold Titles in Mabira Forest
The Ugandan government is moving to cancel 50 freehold land titles that were improperly issued within Mabira Forest Reserve in Mukono District. This action is part of a larger effort to reclaim and protect central forest reserves across the region. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-cancels-50-illegal-freehold-titles-in-mabira-forest-5557128
The Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development is finalizing the cancellation of 50 freehold titles found to be illegally issued on plots within Mabira Central Forest Reserve (CFR), specifically in Block 238, Mukono District. These titles are among a total of 294 freehold titles identified on eight different forest reserves in Mukono that are currently undergoing review and cancellation.
Minister Judith Nabakooba announced that the government is committed to restoring these forest reserves and safeguarding the environment. She confirmed that the affected land has been caveated, meaning all activity on it is halted. This move comes as a response to widespread encroachment and illegal titling on government land, including vital forest reserves.
The Mabira CFR is a significant ecological area spanning over 29,000 hectares across Buikwe, Kayunga, and Mukono districts. The Namyoya CFR, also in Mukono, has been severely impacted by encroachment, reducing its original size. Minister Nabakooba expressed dismay at reports of local officials approving building plans on these caveated forest lands, warning of serious repercussions.
She explained that rapid urbanization is increasing pressure on government land and reserved areas. The process of cancelling these titles is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the land registry and preventing further illegal activities. In Mukono alone, over 1,000 titles have been canceled in the past five years, highlighting the scale of the problem.
In a related incident, a senior lands officer in Masaka was arrested for allegedly issuing over 265 illegal titles on government and private land in the Greater Masaka region. Officials are investigating allegations of corruption and fraudulent land dealings, including the manipulation of titles for significant land holdings.