The Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development is in the final stages of drafting new legislation aimed at simplifying the land documentation and registration processes while ensuring the precision and uniformity of land valuation.
The Valuation Bill is soon to be presented to the Cabinet, as announced by Lands Minister, Hon. Judith Nabakooba. She confirmed that the bill, along with valuation standards, underwent review last week and will be tabled for Cabinet approval, subsequently proceeding to parliament.
During her address at the commencement of the 3-day review of the National Land Policy (NLP) at Hotel Africana in Kampala, Minister Nabakooba emphasized the importance of accuracy and consistency in land valuation. The ministry is contemplating the establishment of a comprehensive database and defining acceptable valuation margins.
The NLP, which has been under implementation for the past decade, recently underwent an evaluation to assess its progress towards its stated objectives. The study was conducted by a team led by researchers, including Margaret A. Rugadya (Ph.D.), Doreen Kobusingye (Ph.D.), Eddie Nsamba-Gayiiya, Herbert Kamusiime, and Kajumba Christine.
Minister Nabakooba highlighted some of the policy concerns highlighted in the study, particularly the increasing issue of land fragmentation in the country. She noted that land fragmentation has become prevalent even in rural areas, with people owning smaller plots of land compared to the past. Addressing this matter through reforms and legislation was deemed necessary.
During the presentation of the study’s findings, Margaret Rugadya stressed the importance of conducting further research to assess the extent of fragmentation and its consequences. She also recommended the development of a government policy to prevent the fragmentation of agricultural land among family members in all agroecological zones.
The implementation of the NLP over the past decade has received substantial support from development partners, primarily led by the German Government through GIZ and the European Union. Christine Ketter, Team Leader of the GIZ Responsible Land Policy in Uganda (RELAPU), commended the Lands Ministry for the positive outcomes achieved through the policy since 2013.
She expressed hope that the experiences gained would inspire and motivate continued progress in their work over the next three days.