The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has warned the public against fraudsters claiming that land titles issued before 2020 require updating or migration through the ministry’s Surveys and Mapping Department.
The ministry cautioned landowners against surrendering their original certificates of title to individuals claiming to be carrying out land record updates or migration exercises.
“The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development cautions the public against fraudsters falsely claiming that land titles issued before 2020 require an update or migration by Surveys and Mapping. Do not surrender your certificate of title,” the ministry said in a statement.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Dennis Obbo, said the claims were false, noting that the ministry did not require landowners to submit their personal copies of land titles when its records were digitised.
“When the Ministry digitised its land records between 2010 and 2013, it relied strictly on original registry copies. At no point were landowners asked to submit their personal copies,” Obbo said.
He urged the public to remain vigilant against scammers who could use the alleged requirement as a means of obtaining original land documents from unsuspecting property owners.
The ministry advised anyone seeking to verify parcel details to use the official Uganda National Land Information System (UGNLIS) app or website portal.
“If you need to check or verify your parcel details, use the official UGNLIS app or website portal. It provides fast, instant and up-to-date information without risking your documents,” Obbo said.
According to the ministry, the digital platform provides access to updated land records, allowing landowners to verify their property details without handing over their certificates of title.
The ministry further urged members of the public to treat requests to surrender original titles for purposes of updating or migration with caution and to use official channels whenever they need to verify their land records.
