UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | The Ministry for Lands, Housing and Urban Development is yet to apply changes to the land title system which processes certificates of title for land proprietors.
In an interview with the media on Tuesday, 23rd August 2022, Minister of Lands, Judith Nabakooba revealed that the ministry is digitising the land system to ensure more transparency and that this will be done by the end of this year.
“Because each detail is in the computer, the person applying for the title will have information and will not be cheated. People are cheated because the information is not readily available…Remember, if there is transparency, there is a clear timeline and people will know that for a such a title I need two weeks or a month,” Nabakooba said.
Hon. Nabakooba revealed that the aim of changing the system is to prevent rampant forgery and duplication.
“We are changing land registration requirements starting with the application forms because most of the trouble arises from the forms. Every time forms are being filled fraudulently, definitely the title will have a problem…so when it comes from the land committee and district land boards it spoils the entire registration process because when someone denies it, it means everything that was done is wrong…that is why we are saying we need to enhance the entire process of registration up to the final point of titling. However, I am going to find out if those features are now included,” she said in her speech.
The minister said the changes shall include adding security features on the land application form and then fully digitising the system.
“We shall engage stakeholders in the process because these are ideas that we bring up. You know anything to do with changing the form in land registration, you need to go through senior management, and top management and it starts with the user department,” Minister Nabakooba said in a meeting with land officers from different districts.
She revealed that the current application forms for a land title only provide for a signature and the name of the area land committee and neighbours which can be forged.
“Then we shall also look at the features of the title. Can we enhance them? What can we do, because you realise that forged titles look like the authentic ones. You might even check and the signature appears the same but when you check in records, the file does not exist,” she added.
She said that one of the two documents shall include new security features such as photos of the signatories, a national identification number, a thumbprint, and a signature that can be scanned and that they intend to start by changing the application form since it’s easier to change.
“Forgery begins with the application form especially public and government land because the forms are filled by the District Land Board and the area land committees,” the minister said.
The minister said that with the changes, the new land title system shall allow the public to apply for land titles online and where any issues arise, the public shall visit the land office for assistance.
As regards the issue of corruption, Mr Angelo Hudson, the senior staff land surveyor at the Ministry of Lands said, “with corruption, land agents and brokers use the names of land officers to obtain money from the public when the officers are not aware.”
Docus Okalany, the PS, Lands Ministry, said, “the Land Information Management System is meant to protect the land owner. The NIN is a unique identifier. We also want the photograph of the landowner to be on the land title. We are also introducing SMS alerts.”
Another respondent, Babra Kahima, a banker, was positive that adding new security features to the land titles will reduce forgeries and that other systems also need to be integrated.
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