The Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba, announced that all Church of Uganda land across the country is set to be registered.
This initiative aims to safeguard the church’s properties and resolve longstanding land disputes.Minister Nabakooba made the announcement during a meeting with a team from the Lands Ministry and Anglican Church leaders at the Namirembe Provincial Secretariat.
The gathering included leaders from all 39 dioceses of the Church of Uganda, who were urged to identify all church-owned land to facilitate the registration process.
“This will help our team identify land with legal documents and process documents to title unregistered land,” Nabakooba stated.
She emphasized the importance of documenting all church lands, including those that may have been overlooked or left unregistered. The minister also instructed church leaders to ensure that all registered trustees are updated in the records and that any land disputes are promptly taken to court for resolution.
"You must ensure that the church does not lose any piece of land during the boundary opening,” Nabakooba advised.
Her remarks underscored the critical need to protect church properties from encroachment and illegal acquisition.
Nabakooba also cautioned against corruption, urging church leaders to report any unethical activities directly to her office or the permanent secretary.
“We must work together to ensure transparency and integrity in this process,” she added.
The acting Provincial Secretary of the Church of Uganda, Balaam Muheebwa, expressed the church’s full support for the initiative.
“The church land registration will minimise conflicts between the church and the communities. The church still has land that is not surveyed and titled. We therefore appeal to the government for help,” Muheebwa stated.
His comments highlighted the church’s ongoing challenges with unregistered land and the potential benefits of the government's assistance.This national registration initiative is expected to have far-reaching implications for the Church of Uganda. By securing legal titles for all its properties, the church aims to prevent future disputes and ensure that its lands are used for their intended purposes.
The project will involve a thorough review of existing land records, boundary openings, and the processing of new titles where necessary.
The collaboration between the Lands Ministry and the Church of Uganda signifies a proactive approach to land management in the country. It reflects a broader effort to address land-related issues that have plagued many institutions and individuals.As the process moves forward, church leaders are tasked with gathering comprehensive data on all church lands, no matter how small.
This meticulous approach will ensure that every piece of land is accounted for and legally protected.In conclusion, Minister Nabakooba's initiative to register Church of Uganda land represents a pivotal step towards resolving land disputes and safeguarding church properties.
The support and cooperation between the government and the church promise a more secure future for the Church of Uganda's land assets, fostering a sense of stability and trust within
