A proposal by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to temporarily halt the issuance of special certificates of title for three months sees legislators divided.
A special certificate of title is a replacement land tile that is issued by the Registrar of Titles when the original owner’s copy is lost, destroyed or completely damaged.
While justifying the intervention during a plenary sitting on Tuesday, 01 September 2026, the State Minister for Lands, Hon. Harriet Ntabazi said the ministry received complaints that special certificates of title had, in some cases, been obtained or issued notwithstanding the continued existence of the original duplicate titles.
“These allegations strike at the integrity of Uganda’s land registration system. A certificate of title is not merely an administrative document, it represents a registered proprietary interest and is relied upon by citizens, courts, banks, investors, purchasers and other institutions in making decisions involving substantial economic value,” Ntabazi said.
She added that the intervention is not intended to deprive genuine registered proprietors who have lost or destroyed their duplicate certificate of title, of the statutory mechanism for obtaining a replacement.
“Our responsibility is to reconcile security with accessibility, due diligence with efficiency, and administrative oversight with the statutory independence of the Registrar. The three-month intervention provides government with an opportunity to address weaknesses that have persisted for too long,” Ntabazi added.
Hon. Sumayah Nabawanuka (NUP, Mubende Municipality) also the Shadow Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development said the suspension puts genuine land owners at risk.
She urged the ministry to carry out a targeted audit of previously issued special certificates, while prioritising cases with complaints of fraud or double titling.
“We need a strong land information system to enable registrars instantly verify a title’s transaction history, mortgages, and caveats,” Nabawanuka said.
Hon. Cohen Amanya (NRM, Igara County West) challenged the ministry’s intervention noting that it impacted on sections 70 and 71 of the Registration of Titles Act.
“The minister’s statement is trying to circumvent a clear provision of the law. Can this Parliament be told why there is a suspension of those sections? There are members of the public who have land cases in court, what will happen to those cases?” Namanya asked.
Hon. Richard Senteza (Indep., Lugazi Municipality) also disagreed with the intervention citing the pending fate of individuals seeking to get loan facilities but may require special certificates of title.
Kazo District Woman MP, Hon. Molly Nawe said the clean-up of the land registry ought to be done without the proposed suspension noting that land is key factor of production and investments could be affected by the move.
Hon. Edson Rugumayo (NRM, Ntoroko County) commended the minister for the decisive action noting that 21 per cent of cases and 41 per cent of case backlog in courts of law are premised on land matters.
“Let us allow the minister to use the three months to ensure they establish guidelines that can allow for new controls,” Rugumayo said.
Sheema Municipality MP, Hon. Dicksons Kateshumbwa said the ministry is on the right track of rooting out issues related to double titling and other fraudulent or irregular dealings associated with the special certificates.
Hon. Amelia Kyambadde (NRM, Mawokota County North) welcomed the move saying that the three-month intervention is a brief period and as such, the Ministry of Lands should be allowed to clean-up the sector.
The Deputy Attorney General, Hon. Jackson Kafuuzi, clarified that the intervention did not breach the law.
“Legally, we cannot suspend the law, and we have not suspended the law. While everybody is free to apply for a special certificate of title, you may not get it immediately as the Ministry of Lands needs this time to clear its house. Thereafter, the process will get back to normal,” Kafuuzi explained.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
