Lawyers, MPs question legality of Nabakooba’s suspension of special certificates

What the report says

Lawyers and some members of parliament are questioning Lands minister Judith Nabakooba’s decision to pause the issuance of special certificates of title for three months, saying a ministerial directive cannot override a process set out in law. Nabakooba announced the suspension on August 14, saying it would run until December while the Lands ministry reviews procedures and tightens safeguards against fraud, double titling and related abuses. The Observer reports that the dispute centres on whether the minister can halt a statutory function under the Registration of Titles Act.

Legal practitioners quoted by the paper said special certificates are meant to replace lost, damaged or unusable title documents and that any suspected abuse should be handled through investigation, verification and enforcement rather than a blanket stop. The Uganda Law Society also challenged the directive in an August 26 letter, arguing that the ministry had not pointed to a legal provision authorising the suspension and urging it to withdraw the order or seek a legislative amendment through Parliament.

Government officials, however, defend the move as a temporary measure to protect genuine landowners and restore confidence in the land system. State minister for Lands Harriet Ntabazi told parliament that the ministry had received complaints involving alleged fraud, overlapping claims and misuse of succession processes. Speaker Jacob Markson Oboth-Oboth referred the matter to the Lands Committee, which is already examining land-sector fraud. Committee chair Edson Rugumayo backed the pause, while shadow minister Sumaya Nabawanuka said the problem could be addressed without suspending the process.