- Uganda has digitized land management system to ease transactions.
- Real estate stakeholders urged to align with the new digital system.
- Stakeholders cautioned to conduct due diligence along with use of the new system.
Authorities in Kampala have launched what they call as the Uganda National Land Information System (UgNLIS), a digital platform which the country’s Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development is banking on to modernize management of the key resource.
According to an update from the ministry, the initiative seeks to eliminate inefficiencies in land management in the country. The ministry says that by digitizing land records, they will be able to enhance transparency and accessibility to vast array of land records.
“The system is a significant step toward transforming land services and boosting public trust…the UgNLIS manages spatially-referenced data for land registration, valuation, planning, and administration across Uganda,” reads the report in part.
“The digital system is user friendly allowing the public to access land information via an online portal such that users have remote access to land data which saves them time and eliminates the need for physical office visits,” the ministry reports.
The system’s user-friendly interface allows clients to access services such as land searches, registration, transfers, and even book for land valuation among other land services that the ministry offers.
The ministry maintains that the new system adheres to legislative standards for collecting, updating, processing and distributing land information. It also says that the digital system is structured to improve transaction management and record-keeping.
The online platform also serves to simplify transactions as it comes complete with an interface for land title registration, ownership transfers, valuation, title issuance and mortgages.
“Improving transaction management by digitizing land fees payments is a key function of UgNLIS,” says the report.
By digitizing land records, the ministry hopes to reduce risks such as document loss, tampering, or fraud, issues that plagued the paper-based system.
“Digitizing records enhances security and accuracy, ensuring more reliable land administration,” reads the press report.
The report also points out the fact that; “digitization reduces transaction times from weeks or months to just a matter of hours or days.”
The UgNLIS will help to streamline land services by speeding up services as well as enhancing efficiency and reliability. With digital accessibility, the ministry is able to promote convenience and provide stakeholders with reliable information at the click of a button.
Furtherstill, UgNLIS integrates with other government platforms such as the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), the National Information Technology Authority (NITA-Uganda), the National Building Review Board (NBRB), and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).
“This interconnected approach ensures efficient land administration across multiple government entities, enhancing service delivery,” reads the press release.
Thanks to the new digital system, payments for various land related services will now be done online, with real-time processing ensuring efficiency and transparency.
“Clients can track application progress, verify title authenticity, and check encumbrances. These digital capabilities offer a convenient and reliable solution for managing land issues,” the ministry explains.
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Uganda’s digitized land services to boost real estate industry
The UgNLIS provides a number of advantages for stakeholders in real estate, construction, and land management sectors. The system will help to ease location of properties, access to prices of real estate, it will also accelerate transaction processing when payments are made.
“This system will serve as a catalyst to boost productivity and economic activities in the real estate industry,” the ministry explains further.
The ministry details that UgNLIS will make availability of verified and updated records easy to access and that way, allow businesses to conduct due diligence, minimize risks like ownership disputes and fraud and also ensure security of transactions.
According to the ministry, the platform also serves to bring down operational costs because by digitizing services, businesses and individuals save time and money, we reduce paperwork and minimizing physical visits, says the report.
“This shift promotes environmental sustainability by lowering paper use and emissions associated with travel,” the ministry details and calls upon businesses in the real estate sector to align their operations with the new digital standards.
“Organizations should review procedures to ensure they meet UgNLIS requirements,” the ministry says.
“However, it remains crucial to perform physical inspections and due diligence to verify digital records against real-world conditions. Any discrepancies identified during physical checks should be investigated thoroughly to avoid legal and financial issues,” the ministry admits.
The ministry also admits that there are various challenges with the UgNLIS such as possible errors in data entry and network connectivity issues.
“There is the risk of manipulation of digital records which could lead to ownership disputes or conflicts,” the ministry admits.
The ministry further agrees that; “Relying solely on the digital platform without independent verification could expose businesses to risks. Over-reliance on the system, without physical inspections, may overlook issues such as encroachments or undisclosed easements, leading to disputes.”
To overcome these challenges with UgNLIS, stakeholders in the real estate industry are advised to take a dual approach by combining digital checks with traditional methods such as physical inspections of property and land.
Since most all land issues deal with financial transactions, stakeholders are asked to be vigilant but the ministry reassures all parties that the system is secure and provides risk management and a peace of mind with its accuracy.
Ultimately, says the ministry, the UgNLIS is a transformative shift in Uganda’s land administration and sets precedence across the East African region.
