4,192 Rwenzori Residents Get Free Land Certificates as Authorities Intensify War on Land Grabbing

Thousands of residents in the Rwenzori region have taken a major step towards securing their land rights after 4,192 people received customary land certificates during the 10th annual Land Awareness Week.

The campaign was organised by Cordaid in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development through the A-GRIP programme, with the goal of helping communities obtain proper land documentation and protect their property from illegal claims and land-related conflicts.

The initiative targeted communities facing challenges associated with insecure land ownership, a problem that has continued to affect smallholder farmers and other vulnerable landowners. Organisers believe that formal documentation can provide greater security and reduce the risk of land being grabbed or disputed.

Ronnie Bashabe, Cordaid’s Senior Expert in Result-Based Financing, said the certificates have given beneficiaries greater confidence in their ownership. He explained that having official documentation provides landowners with stronger grounds to defend their property against individuals seeking to take advantage of undocumented land.

Among those who received documentation was Doreen Nankunda, who said the certificate had changed how she viewed the future of her property. She expressed confidence that the documented land could potentially be used to access credit and support development projects benefiting her family.

A key feature of the campaign was the provision of land documentation services at no cost to beneficiaries. The organisers said removing the financial burden was intended to make formal land ownership documentation accessible to ordinary residents who may otherwise struggle to afford the process.

Minister of State for Lands Harriet Ntabazi urged more landowners to embrace the programme, saying government is working to take land registration and titling services closer to communities. She said residents should take advantage of opportunities that allow them to secure their land without incurring the usual costs.

The minister, however, warned individuals involved in fraudulent land transactions, especially those attempting to obtain multiple titles for one piece of land. She said authorities would pursue offenders, while organisers called for stronger cooperation between communities, local governments and land institutions to prevent disputes and ensure land becomes a secure foundation for investment and economic development.