Uganda’s Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has proposed a massive increase in special land title fees and general registration charges.
These adjustments are subject to approval by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the Cabinet.
The Ugandan Ministry of Lands is proposing significant increases to land title registration and replacement fees, citing rising operational costs and outdated charges from 1998. The proposed hikes aim to boost government revenue and address the long-standing fee structure.
The proposed adjustments are set to impact owners of various land tenure systems, including freehold, leasehold, and private Mailo land. Furthermore, the fee for registering a certificate of title is slated to jump from Shs10,000 to Shs50,000. A similar increase is anticipated for individuals requiring searches to verify land ownership details within the official land register.
According to Ministry of Lands spokesperson Dennis Obbo, the review of these fees, which have remained unchanged since 1998, is a necessary step to align with escalating operational expenses. “The ministry last changed the land registration fees in 1998, and it had taken a long time, yet the cost of everything has increased,” Obbo stated, adding that the proposed increments are the result of extensive consultations with various stakeholders.
The ministry maintains that the proposed increases are manageable and crucial for enhancing service delivery within the land sector. The move is expected to generate much-needed revenue for the government while modernizing the fee structure to reflect current economic realities.
