Achievements & Challenges of Ministry of Lands, Housing & Urban Development in the implementation of the NRM 2016 Manifesto

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1. 22 Ministry Zonal Offices (MZOs) established (services closer to the people).

2. All Freeholds, Leaseholds and Mailo titles digitalized.

3. Certificates of Customary Ownership (CCOs) digitalized.

4. Built a Records and Archival Centre at Entebbe.

5. Held Public Awareness Open days in partnership with CSOs.

6. Developed and disseminated land related information materials.

7. Established a One-stop Centre where search letters are issued in less than 2 hours.

8. Established 12 Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) in the districts of Moroto, Masindi, Kibaale, Lira, Soroti, Gulu, Masaka, Mbale, Jinja, Arua, Entebbe and Fort Portal.

9. All the 12 CORS have been linked to the National Control Centre (NCC).

10. A new Bill has been drafted on Land Acquisition.

11. Uganda Land Commission Bill which is due for presentation to Cabinet.

12. Incorporated a total of 606 Communal Land Associations (CLAs).

13. Issued over 20,000 Certificates of Customary Ownership (CCOs).

14. Mapped a total of 20,883 customary land parcels. Acreage of 16,236.3 ha.

15. Under Systematic Land Adjudication and Certification (SLAAC), a total of 17,265 Freehold titles (Oyam, Mbarara, Ibanda and Kiruhura).

16. Issued eviction guidelines during COVID 19 pandemic lockdown to protect occupants from illegal land evictions.

17. Training and Capacity building plan for Land Administration institutions.

18. Collaborated with JLOS institutions and other stakeholders.

19. Commission of Inquiry into land matters.

20. The amount for the Land Fund was increased from UGX 42 billion to UGX 92.4 billion So far 236,036.

21. Acquired 33,036 acres of land from absentee landlords.

22. Over 300 land titles were processed and issued to lawful and bonafide occupants in Kibaale and over 300 land titles to tenants in Nakaseke district.

23. Regularized the land rights of lawful and bonafide tenants in Bunyoro (Kibaale) and Buganda region (Nakasongola and Nakaseke).

24. Working with GIZ/Responsible Land Policy in Uganda (RELAPU) in Mityana, Mubende and Kassanda.

25. The first ever batch of Certificates of Occupancy for bibanja owners on Mailo land for 200 households are ready for issuance in Kassanda (Myanzi subcounty).

26. Working with district leadership in Kayunga, assisted the tenants to acquire registrable interests for bibanjas.

27. Enacted the Land lord Tenant Bill 2019.

28. We are working with Local investors to invest in housing development through provision of incentives like free land and technical advice.

29. The Government has embarked on the process of repossessing NHCC.

30. Completed Projects: 200 Housing Estate at Namungoona; 176 Housing Estate at Mbarara Municipality; 100 Housing Estate at Naalya – Wakiso.

31. Completed designs: 10,000 Low Cost Units (Bukerere – Kiira Municipality- Wakiso); 15,000 Low Cost Units (Kireka – Kasokoso); 10,000 Low cost Units – Namungoona; 500 Medium Cost Units at Naalya; 4000 Medium Cost Units at Lubowa; 200 Medium Cost Units – Municipality; 100 Low Cost Units -Tororo Municipality.

32. Completed Infrastructure projects in 14 USMID Municipal LGs of Arua, Gulu, Lira, Soroti, Tororo, Mbale, Moroto, Fort Portal, Hoima, Kabale, Masaka, Jinja, Mbarara and Entebbe.

33. Issued housing standards for buildings to cater for the persons with disabilities and the older persons.

34. Amended the Physical Planning Act.

35. Empowered subcounty chiefs to supervise physical development in their respective areas.

35. Identified land for housing development in the following districts: Buliisa, Masindi, Hoima, Kiryandongo, Nwoya, Gulu, Nebbi, Arua, Zombo, Mbarara, Masaka, Jinja and Mbale.

36. Formulated the National Urban Policy, 2017.

37. Urban Development Law.

38. Uganda’s first National Physical Development Plan has been finalized.

39. Prepared Albertine Grabben Physical Development Plan, to guide developments and settlements in the region.

40. Supported preparation of District Physical Development Plans.

Challenges.

1. High cost of building materials.

2. High cost of mortgage financing.

3. Limited regulation and coordination of the Housing actors i.e. real estate, land brokers among others. However, the Ministry has commenced on the process of drafting a Real Estate Agency and Management Bill, when enacted into law will regulate the Real Estate Sector.

4. Increasing illegal land evictions.

5. Escalating slums and informal settlements in urban areas.

6. Absence of a housing database without which it’s impossible to match the demand side of housing with the supply side.

7. Limited integration of physical planning with economic & development planning.

8. Inadequate funds for the Land Fund. It requires about UGX.1.76 trillion to resolve issues of tenanted land.

9. Limited Government land for development & high cost of land acquisition for development projects.

10. Lack of funding for operationalizing the Land