Late last month a Ugandan working group on national land policy and the central government agreed that customary land tenure rights are a distinct and lawful system of land ownership. 

Pending a constitutional amendment” community-owned land will receive registration privileges similar to those granted to freehold tenure” including the ability to use the land as a guarantee in financial transactions.  The proposal will create an overarching title to the customary land” with each stakeholder accorded another individual” sectional title.

“When you want to mortgage your share in a bank” you will be free to do so using your personal title. But when you want to go beyond your individual boundary” then you have to consult the family or community”” said Dr. Betty Udongo” a member of the Northern Uganda Customary Land Owners Association.  Sale of a private title will require the consent of the remaining landholders.

The government had proposed a plan by which customary land tenure would have been gradually transitioned into freehold titles.

Read the report from the Daily Monitor on the agreement here” as well as the debate.