Land-related crimes in Uganda have sharply increased, with Police recording a 67% surge in land fraud cases in 2025, according to the Annual Crime Report released on Monday at Police Headquarters in Naguru.
The report shows that 663 cases of land fraud were reported in 2025, a significant rise from 397 cases in 2024, highlighting growing disputes and criminal activity surrounding land ownership across the country.
Police data indicates that the majority of these cases are still unresolved, with 398 cases currently under inquiry.
Another 333 cases have been submitted to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Resident State Attorneys (RSA) for legal guidance.
However, 145 complainants were advised to pursue civil litigation, suggesting that many land disputes fall outside criminal prosecution, while only 74 cases have so far been taken to court.
The report identifies several recurring offences driving the surge in land-related crimes.
These include fraudulent procurement of land titles, obtaining registration by false pretences, criminal trespass, forgery, and obtaining money by false pretences.
Land fraud in Uganda is a severe, widespread issue, with roughly 9 out of 10 land cases involving fraudulent activities like forged titles, multiple titles on one plot, and illegal evictions, particularly affecting central/western regions. Common scams include forged signatures, impersonation of owners, and corrupt manipulation within land registries.
Common Types of Land Fraud
Multiple Titles: Issuing more than one title for the same parcel of land, often due to forged documents submitted to the registry.
Forged Signatures/Documents: Fraudsters forge the registered owner’s signature on transfer forms.
Impersonation: An imposter poses as the true landowner to sell the land.
Illegal Evictions: Fraudulent claims used to displace lawful or bona fide occupants.
Estate Fraud: Sale of deceased persons’ land by unauthorized individuals.
Approximately 30% of land in Uganda is registered, leaving about 70% under unregistered customary tenure, according to Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MLHUD) reports and recent ministerial statements. This low registration rate, highlighted by the World Bank in 2022, limits access to credit and formal investment, with most land held informally and vulnerable to disputes.
