Strengthening land rights for growth: Evidence and policy options for Uganda
Weak and fragmented land rights in Uganda limit investment, credit access, and efficient land markets. Evidence from the NLIS shows registration improves land use and productivity but does not resolve deeper structural constraints. Reforms must combine scalable registration, dispute resolution, and financial integration to strengthen tenure security and support inclusive economic growth.
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strengthening-land-rights-for-growth- evidence-and-policy-options-for-uganda-UGA-26037 .pdf
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- Weak and fragmented land rights significantly constrain investment, credit access, and efficient land markets in Uganda, particularly under customary and mailo tenure systems where overlapping claims and lack of formal documentation reduce land productivity and value.
- Evidence from the National Land Information System (NLIS) shows that formal land registration is associated with more productive land-use and higher investment, but alone is insufficient to overcome deeper constraints such as tenure ambiguity, ownership concentration, and limited access to finance.
- Policy reforms should focus on scalable land registration, improved dispute resolution, land value capture, and formalising occupancy rights, to strengthen tenure security, unlock credit markets, and support inclusive economic growth.