Over 30,000 Ugandan landowners now hold legal proof of ownership, marking a milestone in the country’s push for land tenure security and community development. This achievement comes as Partners for Community Transformation (PaCT) celebrates 30 years of service, with a growing footprint in land governance and delivery of essential services across under privileged regions.
During PaCT’s 30th anniversary celebration held on July 25, Lands, Housing, and Urban Development Minister Judith Nabakooba applauded the organisation’s efforts in empowering vulnerable communities especially in the Greater Mubende sub-region and parts of Bunyoro with documented land rights, improved livelihoods, and access to critical infrastructure.
“In Uganda, many people live on bibanja land without any formal documentation. They often rely on oral history, saying the land was inherited or handed down by their parents,” Nabakooba said. “But now, with over 30,000 plots mapped and Certificates of Occupancy issued, these communities have greater security and renewed hope for the future.”
Implemented in partnership with the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) and supported by the European Union (EU), PaCT’s land mapping initiative has not only helped reduce land-related conflicts but has also enabled families to use their land certificates to access financial services.
Describing the Certificates of Occupancy as a transformative tool, Nabakooba noted that the initiative provides legal protection for tenants and unlocks new avenues for economic empowerment.
“This is one of the most practical solutions we have to address the persistent conflicts between tenants and landlords,” she added.
The Greater Mubende sub-region which includes the districts of Mityana, Gomba, and Mubende has registered the highest number of plots under the program. Other districts such as Kassanda and Kiboga have also benefited.
According to Geoffrey Ssemakula, the PaCT Executive Director, the intervention was guided by both data and community consultations, focusing on areas with the most severe land insecurity.
“We started in regions where tensions between landlords and tenants were particularly high. Gomba, for instance, has already seen 400 certificates distributed, and this has significantly reduced disputes,” he said.
Beyond land rights, PaCT has expanded its work into social infrastructure to further uplift rural communities. The organisation has constructed over 300 clean water points more than 100 of which are located in Mityana District bringing safe water closer to thousands of households that previously relied on distant and often unsafe sources.
In the education sector, PaCT has sponsored more than 500 children and improved infrastructure in over 30 schools. These upgrades include classroom construction, improved sanitation facilities, and the provision of furniture.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, PaCT launched a signature project, a new classroom block at Sserunyonyi Primary School in Kalangaalo Sub- County, where pupils still study under trees.
“We are working to ensure that within two years, no child here will have to study under a tree,” Ssemakula revealed. “This is about dignity, opportunity, and building a better future for the next generation.”
In the health sector, the organization has constructed at least six maternity wards in the region, including three in Mityana District. These facilities have brought maternal healthcare closer to expectant mothers, many of whom previously had to travel long distances for delivery services.
Mubende District Woman MP Hope Grania Nakazibwe praised PaCT’s work in improving access to safe water.
“Mubende used to suffer from low water coverage, especially in Kiyuni and Kibalinga. Today, over 50 boreholes have been drilled, making a huge difference,” Nakazibwe said.
Currently operating in seven districts including Mityana, Mubende, Kiboga, Gomba, Kassanda, Kakumiro, and others PaCT continues to take an all-inclusive approach that integrates land security with essential services. This model, rooted in community needs and inclusive development, is helping transform some of Uganda’s most under privileged regions.
