GOMBA.
The Government through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development working with developing partners has issued at least 410 free certificates of occupancy to residents of Gomba District.
The development partners include Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), a German Agency for International Cooperation, and the European Union. The land titles were issued on Block198 and 223, Plot 5 and 1 respectively.
While handing over certificates of occupancy to different beneficiaries, Minister Judith Nabakooba expressed her gratitude to the development partners for the initiative that facilitates a harmonious relationship between squatters and their landlords.
“This is a legal document instituted in the Land Act of 1998. You are now free to use the land the way you want ,but ensure you engage in commercial agriculture by tapping into government programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM),” she told beneficiaries during the issuance ceremony at Gomba county headquarters.
The minister underscored the importance of these certificates, arguing that they are intended to reduce land encumbrances between tenants and their landlords.
“The programme is tested and it has been successful in all the six districts where it has been happening. We ask our dear donors to consider extending and expanding the programme to cover all districts in the Central region with private Mailo-land,” Nabakooba said, revealing that the programme is phasing out in December 2025.
The beneficiary districts include; Mityana, Mubende, Gomba, and Kassanda among others where boundary opening and mapping happened before the issuance of these certificates.
For a tenant to qualify for this certificate of occupancy, they must be a lawful occupant with all the relevant documents and must have paid all the nominal ground rent. The programme has registered a significant achievement in unveiling absentee landlords.
Despite the successful testimonies registered, Nabakooba expressed concern over Opposition politicians who choose to politicize the programme by spreading false information about the project through mobilizing communities to abandon this initiative.
“Those are self-seekers who spread baseless information about the certificates you are receiving. Please disregard all the malicious information they feed you and focus on avenues that will alleviate you from poverty,” she emphasized, noting that this particular programme was interrupted by politicians in Butambala.
The minister revealed that the program has been embraced elsewhere and citizens have started tasting the fruits of the NRM government.
European Union delegate Sanne Willems, who serves as the team leader of Green Transition and Private sector, noted that they have already made triumphs with this program and it is evident since its inception that land conflicts have reduced.
“It is very practical. It has an impact on agriculture since it is the backbone of Uganda, environmental sustainability, economic development, and land empowerment among others,” she said.
Having issued 69 same certificates in 2021 and witnessing more 410 is a clear testament that the need is still high.
Ms Willems noted that their reports indicate that out of the beneficiaries, at least 200 people have already acquired access to bank loans using these documents.
“We appeal to the government of Uganda to continue supporting this program through self-sponsorship but we also commit ourselves to continue providing support you may need from us.”she said
Beneficiaries
Ms Nusurah Nakanjako, a resident of Gomba District , appreciated the government and implementing partners for the opportunity and vowed to use the land productively to transform their lives .
Samuel Mwanje, a resident of Maanyi Sub County in Mityana District, said they got relief from the stress of landlords since they can now live freely on their bibanja without any fear of eviction
Gomba District Chairperson, Mr Godfrey Kiviiri asked members of Parliament to table a motion on the floor of Parliament supporting the issuance of free certificate of titles to all sitting tenants to reduce land conflicts.