Government Suspends Special Land Titles Amid Fraud Concerns

Kampala, August 18, 2026 - The government suspended the issuance of special land titles, escalating a land administration crackdown aimed at curbing fraud and protecting public land.

Lands officials said some applicants had sought special titles while original certificates were still held by money lenders, relatives or lawyers. The move is tied to wider scrutiny of disputed titles, including 294 freehold titles issued on eight central forest reserves in Mukono that are undergoing cancellation.

The minister warned land officers against issuing freehold titles over public land, saying such transactions create serious administrative and legal hurdles for the state. Yusuf Nisbambi challenged the minister's position, arguing that the action was outside the law.

The suspension is significant for Uganda's property market because uncertainty over title validity can affect collateral, land transactions and project development, particularly in areas where public land and private claims overlap.