In a decisive move to curb fraudulent land transactions, the Ugandan government is in the final stages of introducing a new land management system powered by blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI). The innovative system is designed to strengthen the existing digital infrastructure used by the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development to track and monitor land activities more efficiently and securely.
During a press briefing in Kampala, Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba revealed that the new technology will include bio-metric features such as fingerprint and facial recognition, allowing for easier and more secure identification of landowners.
“Yes, we digitized the system. Now, to strengthen it further, we have introduced new technology because innovation is always evolving,” Nabakooba said.
“You just appear, and even before doing anything, your picture is captured. All these shortcomings that we have been facing are going to be addressed through the use of technology,” she added.
The ministry is currently finalizing discussions with the company selected to develop the system however once the process is complete, the project will be handed over to an inter-ministerial technical committee for implementation.
“We are working closely with the Ministry of ICT, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) to ensure a coordinated strategy is in place,” Nabakooba explained.
She noted that the initiative is being led by the Lands Permanent Secretary, supported by a team of technical experts, and once the implementation roadmap is agreed upon, then full-scale rollout of the technology will begin immediately.
Johnson Bagiira, the acting commissioner for land registration, emphasized the importance of keeping up with technological advancements, noting that systems quickly become outdated.
“The technology we used 15 years ago is no longer suitable for today’s needs,” Bagiira said. “When new technology emerges, it brings features that enhance security and make operations more efficient and effective.”
Uganda is modeling its new system on successful examples from countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where similar technologies have been implemented with promising results. Officials from the Ministry of Lands have also bench-marked the technology in other developed countries to ensure its effectiveness and adaptability to the Ugandan context.
Additionally, Nabakooba announced the successful completion of a pilot land register cleanup in Mukono Municipality, targeting Blocks 190, 193, and 230 in Kyaggwe County. Launched in 2022, the exercise uncovered overlapping land titles, an issue dating back to the 1950s colonial era when urban town blocks were placed over existing Mailo land without proper alignment. These overlaps were identified through the computerization of the land register.
As a corrective measure, the ministry halted all transactions on the affected land and cancelled 1,237 irregularly issued titles that had overlapped existing mailo titles.
“These titles were being exploited by fraudsters to deceive the public and even defraud financial institutions,” Nabakooba said.
She confirmed that the ban on land transactions in the area has now been lifted.
The successful pilot in Mukono stands as a testament to the government’s resolve to correct long-standing issues in land administration and protect citizens from fraud. With inter-ministerial collaboration and clear strategies in place, Uganda is laying the groundwork for a modern, secure, and transparent land management system that meets global standards.
