How to get a land title in Uganda for land you own
A fresh survey, then the processing that leads to a certificate of title.
Much land in Uganda is held on sale agreements, letters from local leaders or customary ownership, with no certificate of title. A title makes ownership easier to prove, protect, sell or borrow against.
The route depends on the tenure: customary, mailo, freehold or leasehold. Every route needs a fresh survey by a registered surveyor, so the land can be mapped, beaconed and entered on the register.
How we handle it
- 1We look at your documents and the tenure (customary, mailo, freehold or leasehold) to find the right route.
- 2We survey the land with GNSS receivers and place the beacons, with neighbours present.
- 3We prepare the survey documents and follow the file through the lands office.
Worth knowing
- Tenure decides the route
- Customary land usually goes through the Area Land Committee and the District Land Board. Land that sits on someone else's mailo title is handled differently. Your documents tell us which applies.
- Neighbours are part of the survey
- Beacons are placed with the neighbours present so everyone agrees where the boundaries run. Disputes raised now are far easier to settle than after the title is issued.
- Keep every document
- Sale agreements, letters from local leaders and receipts all help show how you came to own the land. Bring originals and copies.
This guide explains how the process generally works. Every piece of land is different, so talk to us about yours before you act on it. More on our land & engineering surveying work.
Tell us about your land
Where is the land, and how did you come to own it? Send it on WhatsApp or by email, or call the office Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm.
Common questions
Can I get a title for land I bought on a sale agreement?
Often, yes. It starts with a fresh survey of the land and depends on the tenure: customary, mailo, freehold or leasehold. Bring the sale agreements and any letters you have, and we'll tell you which route applies.
Do you work outside Kampala?
Yes. Our work has covered Kabale, Hoima, Buliisa, Mubende, Buvuma, Jinja, Ibanda and more, and we have processed titles in Kamwenge, Ntungamo, Mbarara, Wakiso and Mukono.