In a major effort to protect Church of Uganda land from encroachers, the Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba, has announced that nearly 4,000 land titles have been processed for the Church across the country. The initiative, launched in June last year, aims to formalize ownership of church land and prevent disputes arising from verbal land donations, which have often been contested by relatives of the original donors.
The mass land registration exercise, officially inaugurated on June 21, 2024, at Namirembe Provincial Secretariat in Kampala, brought together representatives from all 39 dioceses of the Church of Uganda. During the launch, ministry officials trained diocesan delegates on land management and protection, emphasizing the importance of formal documentation in safeguarding church assets.
Addressing congregants during the St Peter’s Day commemoration at Kasalaga Church of Uganda in Mityana District, Minister Nabakooba highlighted the challenges caused by informal land donations. “I realised that most of the Church land with issues was donated by devotees verbally. After their death, family members turned against the church claiming no donation was done,” she explained. She added that disputes often arise from relatives, not the original donors, and advised the Church to renew trusteeships and ensure proper titling of all its land.
The minister commended the Church leadership, led by Archbishop Rev. Samuel Stephen Kazimba Mugalu, for cooperating fully with the ministry to ensure a smooth and successful registration process. Titles that have already been printed are being handed over to Church leaders in the respective regions, giving the Church legal ownership and protection. “Having a title means you are the rightful owner of the land. We believe this will protect Church land which was formerly lying idle, making it susceptible to grabbers,” Minister Nabakooba said.
The minister also urged the Church to make productive use of its land, noting that well-utilized land is less likely to be targeted by land grabbers. “Even a land grabber will fear to take over land with some productive work done. This is the only tool we can use for now,” she added.
During the same event, St Peter’s Kasalaga Church of Uganda also launched a fundraising drive to complete the parish priest’s house, which is currently in a dilapidated state. Mr. Enos Ssekiziyivu, chairperson of the construction committee, explained that the priest has long struggled with poor living conditions, including infestations of bedbugs, and called on members and well-wishers to support the project. “God needs a healthy servant, but he cannot deliver as expected when he doesn’t sleep well,” he emphasized.
This nationwide land titling exercise marks a significant step in protecting church assets and ensuring that the Church of Uganda can continue its mission without the threat of land disputes undermining its work.
