Minister of Lands Judith Nabakooba has urged couples to secure their land ownership through proper registration, warning that failure to do so is fueling disputes within families.
According to Police Land disputes in Uganda have reached an alarming level, with recent 2026 report indicates a 67% increase in land-related crimes from 2024 to 2025.
Nabakooba said many conflicts arise after the death of a family member when property ownership is unclear.
“I have a case I am handling of a child who was chasing his mother from land, arguing that the properties belonged to his late father,” she said.
Nabakooba noted that while documentation is important, families must also raise children with strong values to reduce conflicts over property.
“We have been having disagreements in families where children want to cut each other because of properties. Others want to send away their aging parents,” she said.
The service was organised by mothers Union under Church of Uganda led by Marcus Dogo, Bishop of Kafanchan Diocese in Nigeria, with James Bukomeko as co-celebrant.
In his sermon, Bishop Dogo emphasized the role of faith in keeping families together.
“A man or a woman that cannot pray, your house will be shattered,” he said.
He also encouraged couples to remain committed to each other regardless of challenges.
“When God was creating a woman, He said let me make for you a helper. He didn’t say children,” Bishop Dogo preached.
Bishop Bukomeko urged parents to invest in their children’s education and moral upbringing.
“We shall get powerful people in this Diocese. Young people have been so supportive to me,” he said.
Leaders at the retreat stressed that combining proper land registration with strong family values is key to reducing disputes and building stable homes.
According to Land fraud cases in Uganda rose sharply in 2025, highlighting growing concerns over land governance and access to justice.
According to the 2025 Annual Crime Report (ACR), 663 land fraud cases were reported, underscoring systemic issues like weak enforcement and corruption that hinder land governance and access to justice.
The report further reveals significant gaps in the handling of these cases. Of the 663 reported incidents, 398 remain under investigation, raising concerns about delays in the process. Police submitted 333 cases to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal guidance.
However, 145 complainants were advised to seek civil redress, while only 74 cases have been taken to court so far.
The police report states that the most common offences related to land fraud in Uganda include fraudulent procurement of certificates of title, obtaining registration by false pretenses, criminal trespass, forgery, and obtaining money by false pretenses.
The rise in land fraud cases comes amid increasing pressure on land across Uganda for development, as disputes over ownership, documentation, and access continue to intensify.
The Annual Crime Report also shows that police recorded 196,405 criminal cases across the country in 2025, with land-related offences rising sharply.
