Buganda Land Board (BLB) has dedicated the month of October to a program aimed at educating tenants on Kabaka’s land about the importance of ensuring proper registration of their land documents. This initiative, known as the “Client Interface Month,” seeks to facilitate the harmonization of bibanja (customary land) and lease ownership on Buganda kingdom land.
Geoffrey Muddu, a resident of Nabweru in Nansana, expressed his support for the initiative, highlighting its timeliness, especially in the context of ongoing discussions about the future of mailo land in Uganda. He emphasized the uniqueness of Kabaka, the Buganda kingdom’s monarch, openly inviting tenants to engage in this process, given the prevalent uncertainties surrounding land issues in the country. Muddu stated that responsible individuals with kibanja (land holdings) on Buganda land should take advantage of this opportunity to ensure compliance with land registration requirements.
According to Olivia Cox Namaganda, the program coordinator, the month-long initiative aims to strengthen the relationship between Kabaka and the tenants on Buganda kingdom land. It invites people to verify the registration status of their kibanja and offers assistance in registering if necessary. BLB has assembled a team of professionals, including surveyors, lawyers, physical planners, and land valuers, who will be available to address any queries from participants.
Namaganda also pointed out that many individuals possess bibanja on Kabaka’s land but lack accurate information about the acreage or value of their land. Furthermore, some individuals in the BLB database have registered their bibanja but need to provide essential documents, such as a national ID number, which is now a prerequisite for land-related transactions.
The initiative begins in Kampala and Wakiso areas, with BLB branches in various locations, including Katwe Muganzirwazza, Ndejje-Lufuka, Nansana-Nakkuule, Kasangati, Masuuliita, and Kakiri, offering access to services. Additionally, Jane Nakandi, a resident of Kasangati, commended the decentralization of the issuance of land electronic cards, which store all land documents and can only be accessed through the registered owner’s fingerprints. Previously, these cards were exclusively issued at the BLB headquarters in Mengo.
It is worth noting that a recent ruling by the Land division of the High Court declared transactions on a kibanja without the landlord’s consent as void, with offenders facing potential penalties of a four-year jail term or a fine of Shs 1.92 million or both.
However, Namaganda emphasized that Kabaka of Buganda is a landlord known for his accommodation, providing various avenues for tenants to meet their obligations. BLB operates nine branches and seven service centers throughout the kingdom, offering daily services and opportunities for individuals on Kabaka’s land to secure their tenancy.
