Museveni's Gov't Announces Cancelation of Title Deeds

Ugandans could soon face sweeping changes in land ownership after Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba announced plans to establish a special committee to oversee the issuance and cancellation of land titles. This move comes amid a surge in public complaints regarding the conduct of the Commissioner for Land Registration.The decision follows last week’s interdiction of Commissioner Baker Mugaino by the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Beti Kamya, on allegations of fraud and abuse of office. The IGG’s intervention raised serious concerns about irregularities in the land title registration system, prompting urgent government action.

Speaking on Monday, Minister Nabakooba confirmed that the committee would be tasked with reviewing special titles and investigating questionable land transactions.

“We have received a growing number of complaints from the public about how land titles are being issued and canceled without due process. We must restore trust in the system,” she said.

The committee’s mandate includes reviewing controversial title deeds and making recommendations on possible cancellations. This has raised alarm among landowners, many of whom now fear that legitimate titles may be revoked under the sweeping reforms.

While the government insists the changes are necessary to clean up corruption and fraud in the land sector, critics argue that the process risks creating more uncertainty in a country already struggling with land disputes.

Minister Nabakooba assured the public that the committee would operate transparently and include independent legal experts to ensure fairness in all decisions.

Still, the announcement has unsettled many Ugandans, especially those holding land in areas previously flagged for investigations.

With land ownership a deeply sensitive issue, the Ministry’s move marks a significant turning point in Uganda’s land governance and could have lasting effects on citizens’ property rights