How to Acquire Land In Uganda

Meaningful Volunteer is a registered CBO (Community Based Organization) in Uganda.  A kind soul has donated land upon which we will build our school.  To get an official land title for the land (which will be owned by the CBO), this is what we need to do.


Misc things needed

• Printed copy of constitution of the CBO
  
  
• 3 colored passport photos of people authorized to sign on Meaningful Volunteers behalf
  
  
• CBO Certificate

1. Evidence of donation/consent to donate land.
   
   This is in the form of a memorandum of understanding.  This must be signed by representative of Meaningful Volunteer and the owner of the land (the Minister).  It must be witnessed by
   
   The LC1 of the community
   
   The Land Committee of Nalusala
   
   Note: The Minister is a busy woman… Maybe she can sign the form and then call the LC1 and so on to confirm that she was the person to sign it.
   
   
2. Fill out Form 4 – Application for Conversion from Customary Tenure to Freehold Tenure/Grant of Freehold.
   
   
3. Attach a copy of the CBO certificate to the form, along with constitution of the CBO, and 3 colored passports of MV signatory.
   
   
4. Hand over all forms to Nalusala Land Committee.  There is a 20,000 shilling filing fee
   
   
5. Land Committee post forms in community
   
   
6. Wait 30 days to see if anyone objects
   There is some confusion here.  It might also be 14 or 21 days.   We’ll wait 30 days just to be safe.
   
   
7. Land committee holds a public meeting.
   The neighboring land owners are the most important people to have present.
   
   
   They make an approximate sketch of the land of Form 23.  The size of the land must be included.
   
   Note: At this stage the CBO (Meaningful Volunteer Organization) is the customary owner of the land, so a representative of Meaningful Volunteer signs in the “Customary Owner section.
   
   
8. The Land Committee writes a report recommending the application to the Land Office (located in the District Engineer’s Office in Sironko).
   
   
9. The District Land Board in Sironko will then meet to discuss the application and (hopefully!) approve it.
   
   
10. A private surveyor is then contacted.
    
    
11. The surveyor constructs a certified deed plan and sends in to Entebbe, which eventually winds its way back to Mbale
    
    
12. The District Land Board in Mbale should then (hopefully!) give Meaningful Volunteer a deed to the land.

Wish us luck!