The first Certificate of Customary Ownership (CCO) has been officially printed using the newly established Uganda National Land Information System (UgNLIS). This significant milestone promises to redefine land tenure security and economic development across the nation, particularly in rural communities.
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Development (MLHUD) has outlined that a CCO serves as a vital legal document, recognizing land ownership grounded in customary tenure systems, which currently govern around 80% of Uganda’s land.
“This certificate formalizes land boundaries and ownership, granting individuals, families, or groups legal recognition of their land rights,” explained Baker Mugaino, Commissioner for Land Registration at MLHUD.
The issuance of CCOs is designed to be accessible and affordable, targeting vulnerable groups including women and youth. This initiative highlights the government’s commitment to inclusive land reforms that empower marginalized communities. By formalizing land ownership, CCOs aim to enhance tenure security and mitigate land-related disputes, which often arise from a lack of documentation.
One of the major benefits of the CCO initiative is its positive implications for women, who historically face challenges regarding land ownership. The CCO process encourages the inclusion of women’s names on certificates and advocates for joint registration with spouses, driving efforts toward gender equality in land ownership. “Secure tenure allows families to safeguard their inheritance rights and reduces risks of land grabbing,” emphasized Mugaino.
The CCO initiative not only ensures secure land tenure but also unlocks economic opportunities. With formal recognition of ownership, landholders can leverage their CCOs as collateral for loans from financial institutions. This breakthrough addresses a critical barrier that has stifled economic growth in rural areas, where access to credit has been limited due to lack of collateral.
Chris Tembo, Senior Staff Surveyor and Chairperson of the Standards Committee at MLHUD, praised the integration of CCO data into the UgNLIS as a game-changing development in land administration. The digital platform, supported by the Cadasta Foundation and the Rising Tide Foundation, enhances data collection and management. Local land committees can now efficiently capture data using mobile devices, minimizing errors in the registration process.
Following data collection, information is uploaded to the UgNLIS, a centralized database that facilitates efficient land information storage and processing across the country. “This ensures CCOs printed from the system are easily verifiable by financial institutions and other stakeholders,” explained William Kambugu from the National Land Information Centre (NLIC) within MLHUD.
The Ugandan government is determined to scale up the issuance of CCOs nationwide, with ongoing support from Cadasta and other development partners, ensuring that more households reap the benefits of secure land tenure. However, expanding the program will require continued investment in infrastructure and digital literacy, particularly in remote regions.
As Uganda celebrates the printing of its first CCO, the effects are anticipated to resonate across households, communities, and the economy. This initiative reflects the government’s vision of a prosperous future where secure land tenure becomes a cornerstone for sustainable development, economic empowerment, gender equality, and social stability.
