MLHUD is advancing a participatory, tech-enabled model to secure customary land rights, register CCOs, and integrate records into Uganda’s national land system.
With 84% of Uganda’s land held under customary tenure and few formal records, the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development (MLHUD) is scaling up a national strategy to strengthen land tenure security. Supported by Rising Tide and Trimble Foundations, MLHUD has already registered over 8,000 Certificates of Customary Ownership (CCOs) in Busoga, with expansion underway in Buliisa and additional districts to reach 450,000 people.
Through Cadasta’s digital tools and training, local enumerators and officials are mapping parcels quickly and accurately. For the first time, customary land data is being integrated into the Uganda National Land Information System (UgNLIS). The initiative prioritizes women’s participation, with 77% of titles including women’s names, while also reinforcing dispute resolution mechanisms and local land governance. This participatory approach provides a scalable, cost-effective model for inclusive land governance across Uganda.
