Lands Minister Suspends Special Land Titles

Kampala, August 15, 2026 - Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba has suspended the issuance of special land titles, citing concerns that the process is being misused by applicants whose original certificates remain in circulation.

Nabakooba said some people have sought replacement titles even when the original documents are still held by money lenders, relatives or lawyers. That practice creates a risk of duplicate claims, fraudulent transfers and new disputes over the same parcel of land.

The suspension is intended to give authorities time to tighten verification procedures before replacement titles are issued. While the move may slow some transactions that depend on special titles, it is aimed at restoring confidence in land documentation and reducing opportunities for fraud.

For banks, developers, agribusinesses and other investors, the decision is significant because land titles are frequently used as collateral and as the legal basis for project acquisition. Stronger controls could improve certainty over ownership, though the near-term effect may be more cautious processing of land-related transactions.