The Ministry of Lands in Uganda has called upon all registered landowners to update their postal addresses on the ministry’s register. The initiative aims to enhance the effective delivery of land services, in line with Section 202 of the Registration of Titles Act, which allows the Office of Titles to serve or provide notices by posting letters to the person’s address for service.
In a notice posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account, the ministry urged registered proprietors and concerned third parties to update their postal addresses in case of any changes. The move has generated mixed reactions from the public, with some expressing concerns about the relevance of postal addresses in the digital age and suggesting the adoption of more efficient means such as email.
Despite the mixed response, the ministry emphasizes the importance of updating postal addresses for effective communication and service delivery. The notice, however, lacks specific details on the procedure for updating addresses, leading to questions about where and how individuals can make these updates.
Critics argue that embracing technology, such as email and phone numbers provided on transfer forms, would be more efficient. Some followers suggested that the ministry should have provided clearer instructions, considering the challenges individuals might face, especially those residing in different locations from their land properties.
The lands ministry highlights the successful integration of the new National Land Information System (NLIS), which covers various aspects of land management, including registration, administration, surveying, mapping, physical planning, and property valuation. The NLIS aims to address challenges like backdoor transactions, forgeries, graft, and missing land records.
