By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE CITY
The Uganda Land Commission (ULC) has launched the creation of a comprehensive, digitally enabled inventory of all government land to ensure accurate documentation, updated records, and to curb encroachment, illegal occupation, and loss of public property in Mbale City.
This was revealed on Wednesday afternoon, 10th December, 2025 during a press conference held at the Mbale City Council chambers following a stakeholders’ engagement meeting that brought together the ULC, City Council leaders, City Land Board, city surveyors, and other officials.
Government land under review includes institutional land (schools, hospitals, and ministries), infrastructure land (roads, power lines, railway corridors, and public open spaces), administrative land (district headquarters and sub-counties), as well as public utility land.
According to Christine Aporu Amongin, Commissioner at the Uganda Land Commission, the government has started the process of digitizing all government land records for accuracy and transparency in 16 cities and municipalities across the country.
Amongin noted that the Commission is a constitutional body mandated to hold and manage all land vested in or acquired by the Government. It also protects government land, administers leases, manages the Land Fund, and procures land titles.
“The exercise will help prevent encroachment and illegal occupation of government land.” Amongin said
She added that all lessees must update their records and clear ground rent arrears once the city council provides the necessary information.
“We are moving away from the old file-based system to a digitalized one. With just a click of a button, you will be able to view the land inventory. A survey team from Entebbe will be in Mbale City next week,” Amongin said.
Ronnie Bahungahe, Senior Land Officer at the Uganda Land Commission, said they expect Mbale City Council to submit a list of all government land under its jurisdiction, as well as any other government land within the city.
“Our survey team from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, specifically from the department of mapping and surveying, together with government valuers and sociologists, will work closely with stakeholders in Mbale City to take stock of all government land,” Bahungahe said.
He added that stakeholders will help verify government land, support surveys and boundary opening, confirm title ownership, and identify unsurveyed land for processing.
“We aim to take complete stock of all government land so that we have proper records and, going forward, a comprehensive and fully digitalized inventory,” he said.
