The Church of Uganda has launched a mass land titling exercise in the Rwenzori Sub-region in a move aimed at protecting its property from encroachment and land grabbing.
The exercise, launched yesterday at St John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal City, will cover Church land across the region.
It is being implemented by Church Commissioners Holding Company Limited, the business arm of the Church of Uganda, in partnership with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
Launching the exercise, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, The Most Rev Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, said securing land titles would help protect Church property from growing land disputes and encroachment.
He said much of the Church land was donated by well-wishers without proper documentation, leaving some properties vulnerable to claims by descendants of the original donors.
“Most of the land owned by the Church was donated by people of goodwill, often without written documentation. Unfortunately, some of their children and grandchildren are now attempting to reclaim it. We are stewards, not owners, of this land. It is meant for ministry and not for individual use,” Archbishop Kaziimba said.
He urged dioceses and other Church institutions to use their land productively after obtaining titles, saying properly secured land could contribute to the Church’s self-sustainability and support its ministry.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Dennis Obbo said the exercise was part of a presidential directive to facilitate the titling of land belonging to religious institutions.
He said the directive covers land belonging to the Church of Uganda, the Catholic Church, the Muslim community, the Seventh-day Adventist Church and other faith-based institutions.
“Our teams will spend 10 days in the Rwenzori region to undertake the necessary work,” Mr Obbo said.
The exercise is expected to reduce land disputes, curb encroachment and strengthen the legal ownership and management of Church property.
