Land Title
A land title is one of the most fundamental documents to show proof of land ownership in Uganda. Some people are not able to tell the difference between a fake title and an original one and have therefore fallen victim to land fraud and grabbing.
Contents/ Features of a genuine land title:
- “A genuine land title” is issued by the office of tittles which is under the ministry’s registry at the ministry of lands, Housing and Urban Development. The original copy of the land title then remains at the registry and the proprietor/ registered land owner goes with the duplicate of the same.”
- Both copies however must bear the same detailed features including the name of the land owner, instrument number, date and time of registration, area and any other encumbrances in relation to the piece of land say mortgage, caveat or any other party interested in the land in question.
- A title must bear the official signature from the issuing office, which is the regional land office, and official seals gazetted by the government, among other details.
- A valid land title must bear a block number, blue page and the encumbrance page.
- Land titles released after October 2020 have security features that one can look out for, meant to guard against fraud and forgeries.
- The new certificates of title bear a unique matrix bar-code imprinted on it
- Name, National Identification Number (NIN), telephone number, post office number and email address of the registered owner.
- A miniature deed-plan embedded onto the body of the certificate of title in addition to the usual deed-plan. A deed plan shows the map of the land in question, its actual location and survey marks and other survey details describing the land.
- In addition, according to the Access to Information Manual produced by the Lands Ministry, genuine land titles must bear a seal of the office of titles, a print deed showing the map of the land in question, its actual location and survey marks and other survey details describing the land. It must have a reference number and an instruction to survey, both of which if verified will clearly show the actual piece of land in question.
NOTE: All certificates of title issued before October 2020 that are based on the old templates of the Certificate of Title shall continue to be used for the purposes and intent.