If you needed to verify the ownership of land or check for any encumbrances in Uganda, it used to involve hiring a surveyor and paying at least UGX 100,000. However, the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development has introduced the National Land Information System of Uganda (UgNLIS)—an online portal that allows you to perform land title searches quickly and affordably. For just UGX 10,000 per search, you can obtain results for a piece of property within minutes, rather than days.
Here’s how you can perform a land title search online:
Create an Account
- Go to UgNLIS or https://ugnlis.mlhud.go.ug/creation-compte
- Choose a username (either your phone number or email) and set a password.
- You’ll then be prompted to enter your personal details, including full name, date of birth, nationality, and ID type. If you choose the national ID, be sure to use your NIN number, not the ID number.
Types of Searches Available
- Search Letter: This provides an official certification of the information contained in the Uganda National Land Information System for a specific land or condominium title. It’s equivalent to a physical search at the Ministry Zonal Offices (MZOs).
- Parcel Search: This search gives detailed information about a specific parcel of land, including any linked title and its boundary on a map.
Topping Up Your Account
- Before performing any searches, you need to top up your account. Each search costs UGX 10,000. For example, if you want to search for two titles, you should top up UGX 20,000.
- You can pay via mobile money or credit/debit card. The mobile money option is the most convenient, and you’ll receive a notification on your phone to enter your PIN to confirm the transaction.
- Note: You’ll need a URA TIN number to make a payment. If you don’t have one, you can easily get it from the URA website.
Performing the Search
- Once your payment is confirmed through a URA-linked PRN number, your account will be credited, and you can proceed with the search.
- Results are usually available within 5–10 minutes and can be downloaded as a PDF.
User Experience Tips
- While the overall experience is smooth, a minor issue I encountered was with the Municipality/Town Council/City field. It’s better to leave this field blank, as selecting a specific option may limit the results in the Block and Plot dropdown menus. For instance, choosing “Mukono Municipality” prevented me from finding the Block and Plot number for my title.
Whether you’re finalizing a land deal or just want to verify ownership details, the UgNLIS portal is a fast, affordable, and convenient way to conduct land title searches in Uganda.