FREEHOLD TENURE IN UGANDA

The Land Act 1998 defines freehold tenure as a tenure that bestows upon someone ownership of registered land in eternity –which means “owning the land forever,”

This type of tenure was set up by the 1900 agreement between Buganda and the British colonial government.
Most owners of land under this tenure acquired it as grants from the colonial government before independence and from the Uganda Lands Commission after independence –with only a few having bought it from the government.

The Land Act specifies that the holder of land in freehold has the full power of ownership, which means they can use it for any lawful purpose and sell, rent, lease, dispose of it by will.

The act also decrees that only citizens of Uganda can own land under freehold tenure, with non-citizens allowed only the alternative of leasing it for a period of up to 99 years.

Obtaining certificates of title under this tenure is pursued directly through the government authorities where the Sub-county land office, the district land office, and the zonal office of the Ministry of Lands are all involved.

PROCESS OF ACQUIRING A FREEHOLD TITLE

Step 1

The Applicant must have in his/her possession fully completed Forms 4, 10, 19, 23, a set of 3 authentic deed plans, 3 Passport Photographs, Receipts of Payment and a forwarding letter requesting for a Freehold title signed by the District Land Officer of the respective District where the land is located.

Step 2

The Applicant presents the full set of original documents in duplicate and a photocopy of the same, to the Department of Land Administration for Checking. The Photocopy is stamped ‘Received’ and returned to the Applicant. The Applicant checks with the Department of Land Administration after 10 working days to confirm their approval or rejection.

Step 3

Once approved, the documents are forwarded to the Department of Land Registration for issuance of a Freehold Land Title. The applicant checks after 20 working days.

Step 4

The applicant presents the photocopy given to him/her by the Department of Land Administration stamped ‘Received’ and identification documents on collecting the Freehold Title. The applicant signs for the Title and the Photocopy is stamped ‘Returned’ on completion.

All the land we sell at Luba Properties Limited is private mailo land. Talk to us if you have any land-related questions. Call 0773259007/ 0757444666 or Email: info@lubaproperties.ug