By Aggrey Baba
Newly appointed State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Harriet Ntabazi, has identified digitisation as one of her top priorities, saying technology will be key to ending the persistent problem of double titling that has fueled countless land disputes across Uganda.
She made the remarks shortly after taking over office from outgoing minister Sam Mayanja at the Ministry of Lands headquarters in Kampala, on Wednesday. Ntabaazi said government was already moving toward a system that could significantly reduce fraudulent land transactions.
“Double titling will be solved by digitisation and we need to put the system in place,” she said.
According to Ntabaazi, consultations with senior minister Judith Nabakooba revealed that a digitisation framework has already received approval from President YK Museveni and is expected to strengthen land administration processes.
The minister said improving efficiency within land institutions would be among her immediate priorities as she settles into office. She cited challenges within district land boards and land tribunals, saying many people had previously viewed reforms in those institutions as difficult to achieve.
“I have found challenges in land boards and land tribunals. People think we cannot get there, but this time around we shall go there. Not as a war but through collaboration,” she said.
Ntabazi described herself as a humble public servant from Bundibugyo District who understands the importance of land both in rural and urban settings since she belongs to both settings (back in Bundibugyo and in Kampala).
She acknowledged inheriting a demanding docket and credited her predecessor, Sam Mayanja for raising public expectations through his aggressive handling of land disputes.
“You have set a pace which is hard, but I will do all it takes to maintain it,” she said.
The state minister appealed to ministry officials to support her leadership, saying she preferred teamwork and consultation in delivering results.
“I like working with people and learning from people, but positively,” she said.
The woman from Bundibugyo also pledged to preserve what she called the positive image Mayanja had created within the ministry, particularly his efforts against land grabbing.
She praised the outgoing minister for confronting powerful interests and helping restore public confidence in the ministry’s commitment to protecting land rights.
The handover ceremony was marked by warm exchanges between the two leaders, with Ntabaazi jokingly reminding Mayanja that, as the newly appointed Attorney General, he would still be required to defend government decisions arising from the lands docket.
“I ask you to bear with me as Attorney General because you know this lands office and its issues very well. I will frequently consult you on land matters, and remember when I mess up here, you will be the one in court to defend me,” she said, drawing laughter from attendees. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
