{"id":15990,"date":"2025-11-25T17:05:04","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T17:05:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ugandaupdatenews.com\/?p=15990"},"modified":"2025-11-26T09:31:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T09:31:29","slug":"relapu-project-concludes-after-nearly-10-years-of-strengthening-land-rights-in-uganda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/relapu-project-concludes-after-nearly-10-years-of-strengthening-land-rights-in-uganda\/","title":{"rendered":"RELAPU Project Concludes After Nearly 10 years of strengthening Land Rights in Uganda."},"content":{"rendered":"\n


By Zulfah Namatovu<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Responsible Land Policy in Uganda (RELAPU) project, implemented by GIZ, has concluded after nearly a decade of transformative work aimed at strengthening land rights and tenure security across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The RELAPU project, Launched in 2016, has played a crucial role in empowering rural communities particularly women and marginalized groups by promoting responsible land governance, formal ownership, and equitable access to land resources. The project sought to bridge the gap between Uganda\u2019s progressive land policy framework and its implementation on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through awareness campaigns, conflict resolution, and capacity building, RELAPU helped communities gain confidence and clarity over land ownership, an essential step toward reducing poverty and hunger while promoting sustainable development. Operating in Northern, North-Eastern, and Central Uganda, RELAPU has achieved measurable and lasting results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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According to GIZ, over 86,000 households, including 26,353 female-headed households, have secured their land rights through the project\u2019s interventions. The project successfully mitigated land-related conflicts, resolving 2,531 disputes in Central Uganda with an 83% success rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond conflict resolution, RELAPU enhanced compliance with international standards for responsible agricultural investments and improved smallholder farmers\u2019 access to credit through recognized land documents. Many beneficiaries can now use their land
as collateral or a productive economic asset\u2014transforming land from a source of insecurity into an opportunity for growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the Celebration of Success and Learning, held at Speke Resort Munyonyo to showcase RELAPU\u2019s achievements ahead of its official completion in May 2026, the Minister of State for Lands, hon. Dr. Sam Mayanja, commended the programme\u2019s transformative impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have witnessed progress in mapping of land, issuance of certificates of ownership, introduction of self-financing models, support for customary land documentation, community sensitization, and strengthening of grievance resolution mechanisms,\u201d Dr. Sam Mayanja said.
RELAPU\u2019s work has contributed immensely to improving land administration and justice across Uganda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The event brought together key stakeholders from the Government of Uganda, the European Union Delegation, the German Embassy, district leaders, civil society organizations, traditional authorities, and the private sector. It served as a platform to recognize RELAPU\u2019s contributions to Uganda\u2019s land governance reforms and to promote knowledge sharing for continued progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James Macbeth Forbes, GIZ\u2019s Country Director for Uganda, noted that, \u201cSince 2016, the RELAPU Programme has contributed significantly to Uganda\u2019s land governance agenda through five major components,\u201d adding that its success has been rooted in close collaboration with government and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moses Musinguzi, Principal at Makerere University\u2019s College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) and a RELAPU partner, urged the government to continue prioritizing formal land registration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost criminal cases in the courts of law have a bearing on land disputes,\u201d he said, noting that \u201cof approximately 23 million land parcels in Uganda, less than one million are registered in the Land Information System.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also called on the government to subsidize the high cost of land registration, observing that the current cost can buy you another piece of land. Recent data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) and the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) highlight the magnitude of land-related conflicts in Uganda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over 60% of civil cases filed in Ugandan courts are linked to land disputes, while approximately 70% of rural conflicts involve boundary disagreements, inheritance wrangles, or overlapping ownership claims. These figures underscore the urgent need for initiatives like RELAPU, which promote peaceful and equitable land administration through formal documentation and community-based dispute resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

RELAPU\u2019s achievements include the issuance of 10,842 Certificates of Customary Ownership (CCOs), 558 Certificates of Occupancy on private Mailo land, and support for 111,286 households through Land Inventory Protocols (LIPs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project also facilitated 894 tenancy agreements in refugee-hosting communities and successfully resolved 82% of recorded land-related conflicts, while building extensive capacity across government institutions, community structures, and land governance actors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through these achievements, RELAPU has not only secured land tenure for thousands of Ugandans but also strengthened trust between communities and the state. Its emphasis on inclusivity and gender responsiveness has ensured that women often excluded from land ownership can now claim their rights and participate in land-based economic activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editor:msserwanga@gmail.com<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Zulfah Namatovu The Responsible Land Policy in Uganda (RELAPU) project, implemented by GIZ, has concluded after nearly a decade<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15991,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[65,366],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news","category-land-rights-national-development"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/RELAPU-164.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5996,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/legal-land-rights-for-ugandans-essential-for-productivity-and-household-income\/","url_meta":{"origin":15990,"position":0},"title":"LEGAL LAND RIGHTS FOR UGANDANS ESSENTIAL FOR PRODUCTIVITY AND HOUSEHOLD INCOME","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"June 23, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The Minister of Lands , housing and urban development , Ms. Judih Nabakooba has underscored the importance of securing the citizens\u2019 land rights by acquiring \u00a0legal land documentation such as certificates of ownership and certificates of occupancy noting that it \u00a0has a positive impact on agricultural productivity and income.\u00a0 \u201cWith\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/na1-scaled.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/na1-scaled.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/na1-scaled.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/na1-scaled.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/na1-scaled.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11134,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/government-starts-issuing-free-certificates-of-customary-ownership-in-acholi-sub-region\/","url_meta":{"origin":15990,"position":1},"title":"Government Starts Issuing Free Certificates Of Customary Ownership In Acholi-Sub Region","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"January 7, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Our Reporters Government has commenced the exercise of giving out free Certificates of Customary Ownership (CCOs) to residents in Acholi sub-region. The exercise, led by Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba, kicked off on January 4 in Agago District at a ceremony held at Kalongo grounds in Kalongo Town Council but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Land Rights & National Development"","block_context":{"text":"Land Rights & National Development","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/land-rights-national-development\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/naw.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/naw.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/naw.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/naw.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/naw.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6677,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/president-museveni-gives-out-land-titles-to-1500families-in-northern-uganda\/","url_meta":{"origin":15990,"position":2},"title":"PRESIDENT MUSEVENI GIVES OUT LAND TITLES TO 1,500FAMILIES IN NORTHERN UGANDA","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"September 16, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Our Northern Uganda Correspondent President Museveni has handed over customary land titles to the people \u00a0of \u00a0Apac District \u00a0in a concerted government project aimed at issuing titles to 275,000 families and 630 clans in the greater northern region. \u201cI congratulate the people of the Ministry of Lands for getting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Land"","block_context":{"text":"Land","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/land\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/naba3.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/naba3.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/naba3.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/naba3.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9538,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/govt-committed-to-protect-women-land-rights-minister-nabakooba\/","url_meta":{"origin":15990,"position":3},"title":"Govt Committed to Protect Women Land Rights-Minister Nabakooba","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"July 25, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Lands Minister Nabakooba talking to the media By Our Reporter \u00a0 The government of Uganda is committed to the promotion and protection of women land rights to ensure equitable national economic \u00a0growth and development ,Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba has stated . \u00a0 \u00a0Nabakooba was presiding over the \u00a0opening ceremony of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/na2-2.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/na2-2.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/na2-2.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/na2-2.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/na2-2.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12173,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/museveni-asks-developing-countries-to-push-for-land-registration-as-uganda-hosts-global-land-learning-week\/","url_meta":{"origin":15990,"position":4},"title":"Museveni Asks Developing Countries To Push For Land Registration As Uganda Hosts Global Land Learning\u00a0Week","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"June 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Our Reporters President Yoweri Museveni has called upon developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa to push for land registration to ensure security of land tenure and realise economic transformation. 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