EVOLUTION OF THE LAW ON LAND REGISTRATION AND LAND RIGHTS IN UGANDA

Abstract

This article reviews the evolution of the law on land registration and land rights in Uganda from the pre-colonial period to the present. It examines the influence of historical, political, and legal developments on land registration laws and land rights. The study adopts doctrinal legal research, relying on analysis of statutes, court judgments, government policies, and academic literature. Key legal instruments reviewed include the 1900 Buganda Agreement, the Registration of Titles Act Cap 240, the Land Act Cap 236, the Land Acquisition Act Cap 235, and the Uganda National Land Policy (2013). Document analysis and archival research are used to trace changes in land registration laws over time. The findings show a shift from customary landholding systems to formal land registration introduced during colonial rule and refined through post-independence reforms. Challenges persist, including tensions between customary and statutory tenure systems, corruption, and limited access to land titles.