Mukono – In a landmark effort to improve land governance, planning, and service delivery, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has convened a regional sensitization and stakeholder engagement meeting in Mukono District.
The gathering brought together key actors from across Greater Mukono comprising Mukono, Buikwe, Kayunga, and Buvuma districts with the aim of harmonizing land service delivery and raising public awareness about digital land solutions.
The engagement targeted district leaders, physical planners, survey and mapping officers, and town clerks from all town councils in the region. Central to the discussions was the Ministry’s commitment to rolling out digital land management systems, a move designed to streamline service delivery, reduce corruption, improve transparency, and ease public access to vital land-related services such as land searches, title registration, and survey requests.
“This digital transformation is meant to serve all Ugandans, not just those in urban centers,” said a Ministry representative. “We need collective efforts to bridge the digital divide and ensure every citizen has access to timely and reliable land services.”
Participants were called upon to actively sensitize local communities, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas, where access to internet services and digital knowledge is still limited. The Ministry pledged to support local governments with follow-up trainings, mobile outreach programs, and awareness campaigns to make digital land services accessible to all.
One of the core issues raised during the session was the lack of coordination between zonal land teams and district authorities. Representing the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Mukono, Deputy CAO Mr. Stephen Muhumuza welcomed participants and expressed gratitude to the Ministry for engaging directly with local stakeholders. He emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration in fighting corruption and improving service delivery.
“The challenge we face is poor coordination between the zonal teams and district staff. As government officers, we must work together to achieve our shared goals and serve the people with integrity,” said Mr. Muhumuza.
Stakeholders voiced serious concerns about the shortage of qualified physical planners at the district level a gap that has led to delays in processing development applications and enforcing proper land use plans. The lack of technical personnel has undermined urban planning efforts, especially as development pressure intensifies in the fast-growing region.
Another pressing matter was the situation surrounding Goma Plain land, where delays in securing a valuation report have left the sub-county vulnerable to losing a key community market. Participants called for urgent intervention by the Ministry to prevent irreversible loss of public land.
Presiding over the session, Mr. Kyaze Emmanuel, Commissioner for Physical Planning, and his Deputy, Mr. Kidega Denis, highlighted the importance of embracing the Ministry’s online systems for land title approvals and development applications.
Commissioner Kyaze explained that the new digital platforms are built to minimize physical visits to land offices, saving time and costs while promoting transparency and accountability. He encouraged district officials and technical staff to become champions of this reform by educating the public on how to navigate the platforms and seek support when needed.
“This is not just about digitizing land services—it’s about transforming how land governance works for everyone, from urban investors to rural farmers,” said Mr. Kyaze. “We need grassroots awareness to make this system effective.”
He commended the Mukono District CAO’s office for its continued cooperation and assured stakeholders of the Ministry’s commitment to fixing gaps in planning, staffing, and land verification across Greater Mukono.
This strategic meeting marked more than a policy dialogue it signaled a pivotal turning point in how land is managed, planned, and delivered in one of Uganda’s fastest-growing regions. As urbanization accelerates and land-related demands increase, there is a clear and urgent need for stronger systems, digital transformation, and unified leadership.
With sustained collaboration between the Ministry and local governments, and a shared vision for equitable and transparent land services, Greater Mukono now has an opportunity to lead by example in Uganda’s land sector reforms.
The road ahead demands accountability, open communication, and actionable steps but with the momentum generated by this engagement, the future of land governance in Mukono, Buikwe, Kayunga, and Buvuma looks promising.
