High costs failing land registration - MPs

MPs on the Committee of Physical Infrastructure meet Mbarara Zonal Lands office staff in Mbarara District on Monday. PHOTO BY FELIX AINEBYONA

What you need to know:

The legislators say many people are not titling their land due to the hidden high costs.

MBARARA- Members of Parliament on the Physical Infrastructure committee have expressed concern over hefty costs of land registration which they say are hindering many people in rural communities from getting land titles.

Speaking at a meeting with Mbarara Zonal Lands office staff in Kamukuzi, Mbarara District on Monday, the MPs said many people are not titling their land due to the hidden high costs. The legislators want those sabotaging land registration investigated.

“The cost of titling land in Uganda is high although the prescribed fee is much less. We think surveyors and some government officials are to blame for the mess,” said Mr Denis Sabiiti, the committee chairperson.

The MPs further said government needs to ease land registration because it is a catalyst for development. The Principal Land Officer Mbarara Zonal office, Mr Alphonse Angulo, told MPs that they collected Shs28 billion in land registration fees in the 2015/16 financial year.

The MPs, however, said the money collected would have been much more money but majority people do not know the benefit of titling their land.
“We are going to sensitise people about the need to register their land. The issue of hidden costs not seen in books of accounts has to be dealt with,” Mr Sabiiti said.

Mr Angulo, however, defended his staff, saying the only money they charge for land registration is what is prescribed in the law.
He said the total charges for acquisition of a land title ranges between Shs50,000 and Shs100,000.

Mr Angulo argued that the government does not survey land and that the land owner has to procure the service from private surveyors.
“We don’t tolerate bribery. If any worker solicits a bribe, the public should report to me. We ask for technical fees spelt out in the charter,” he said.

Mr Grace Kagoro, a principal land officer in the Ministry of Lands, said land offices were soliciting money in the past when the system of land registration was largely manual involving travelling to Entebbe.

“You would carry files to Entebbe. That’s how the issue of money was coming in. Now we are digital and nolonger ask for money,” Mr Kagoro said.
The MPs, however, insisted there is connivance between land officers and private surveyors to charge a lot of money from ordinary people.
Mr Paul Agaba (MP Kyaka North) urged the Surveys Registration Board to put in place uniform and affordable surveying fees to check the exorbitant charges. He also called for the need to have all private land dealers registered so that they are regulated and pay taxes.