Kamuli, Uganda: Residents of Bunangwe Ward, Northern Division, Kamuli Municipality have received 309 Certificates of Customary Ownership (CCOs) valued at Shs2.4 billion, marking a major milestone in land protection, tenure security and sustainable ownership in the district.
The land titles were officially handed over on Tuesday at Muzuri Hotel, Kamuli, under a project supported by Shelter and Settlements Alternative (SSA) through its Women Spaces Programme, aimed at strengthening equitable access to land, housing and livelihoods for men, women and youth.
According to SSA Executive Director Dorothy Basiwe, the distribution reflects deliberate efforts to promote gender-responsive land ownership. Of the 309 titles issued, 45 percent are owned by women, 35 percent by men, while 20 percent are jointly owned by spouses.
“SSA is committed to building a nation with accessible, affordable and sustainable human settlements for all. We prioritise women’s control over housing, land and livelihoods through policy influence and practical interventions,” Basiwe said.
She noted that joint ownership enhances family stability and protects women from dispossession, particularly in customary tenure systems.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Dorcas Okalany, in remarks delivered on her behalf by Denis Obbo, said the exercise was in line with President Museveni’s July 2022 directive to secure citizens’ land rights and reduce land-related conflicts.
“You now hold this land in perpetuity. There is no difference in ownership value between customary and leasehold tenure, only the form of tenure differs,” Okalany said, urging lower local governments to enact by-laws making land registration compulsory.
She warned that any land transactions conducted outside the knowledge of government authorities after registration would be deemed null and void.
Handing over the titles, Kamuli Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Lazaro Magezi urged beneficiaries to treat the documents as valuable national assets.
“These land titles are constitutional gains. They cannot be tampered with like local landmarks. They add value to your land, enable access to credit, and must be protected,” Magezi said.
He also cited constitutional, legal and biblical principles that safeguard land ownership, warning against illegal boundary alterations and inheritance conflicts.
Magezi commended SSA for complementing government efforts, noting that fear of high costs, bureaucracy and cultural misconceptions had previously discouraged land registration. “Technology has simplified the process. What is needed now is continuous public education to demystify land registration,” he added.
One of the beneficiaries, Justine Siminyu, who received a co-owned customary land title with her husband, described the acquisition as a Christmas gift and a symbol of women’s empowerment.
“Co-ownership strengthens trust between spouses, promotes joint planning and shields families from inheritance disputes. We are now planning our 2026 development projects together,” she said.
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