UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has finally conceded the cancellation of 475 land titles identified in Central Forest Reserves across the country.
According to the advert issued by the Ministry, the Executive Director of National Forestry Authority raised a complaint concerning the illegal issuance of titles on land encroaching various Central Forest Reserves in Uganda.
In their mandate to protect and manage the Central Forest Reserves across the country, NFA has discovered that most certificates of titles were wrongfully and illegally issued, and thus requested their cancellation.
Therefore, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has issued an advert containing all land titles awaiting cancellation, if the landowners don’t file their defence within 14 days from issuance – 26th, August 2021.
Landowners now have until 9th September 2021 to file a defence against the cancellation.
Check HERE to see if your land title is among the ones scheduled for cancellation.
”This is, therefore, to invite you according to section 91 of the Land Act (Cap.227), that this office shall entertain the claim made against you by the Executive Director, National Forestry Authority. The Executive Director, National Forestry Authority, request you to respond to the same within 14 days from the date of service on you hereof,” announced the Ministry.
Some of the land titles in question include those from Kyadondo, Busiro, Mukono and Mpigi.
”You are also invited for a public hearing regarding this matter on the time, day, and date showed against your title at the respective Ministry Zonal Office (MZO) where the MZO will examine your objections,’ added the Ministry.
The Ministry further cautioned, ”By copy of this notice, the Executive Director, National Forestry Authority or his representatives are required to attend the hearing with all their documents about the above-described land.”
In December last year, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development issued a similar notice to cancel at least 79 land titles identified in the Central Forest Reserves across the country.
According to the NFA legal manager, Mr Moses Muhumuza, the 79 titles were part of the 406 titles submitted in a complaint filed with the Ministry.
“We have been compiling a list of titles that have been identified in central forest reserves during our patrols across the country and found people encroaching on parts of the forest reserves,” Moses said.
Moses revealed that the titles in question were identified in Mukono and Wakiso districts.
Just like in the most recent advert, the Ministry then summoned registered proprietors of the titles for a hearing to amend the register book citing provisions of Section 91 of the Land Act.
Statistics show Uganda loses about 9000 hectares of forest reserves every year because of encroachment.
In 2019, National Forestry officials revealed they were battling at least 120 land-related cases in different courts across the country.
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