Land Act (No. 16 of 1998).

The Act consists of 99 sections which are divided into 6 Parts: Preliminary (I); Land Holding (II); Control of Land Use (III); Land Management (IV); Land Tribunals (V); Miscellaneous (VI).Sections 3 declares all land in Uganda to be vested in its citizens and divides land tenure systems into 4 categories: customary; freehold; mailo; and leasehold. Section 4 defines these titles in detail. Mailo tenure is a form of tenure that permits the separation of ownership of land from the ownership of developments of the land made by a lawful or bona fide occupant. A certificate of customary ownership may be acquired by persons holding former public land in customary tenure under section 5. A Land Committee established under section 65 of the Act shall process applications for such certificate in accordance with section 6. A District Land Board established under the Constitution shall decide on granting of a certificate on the basis of advice of a Committee under section 8. Sections 10 concerns the conversion of customary titles in freehold titles. Sections 11 to 15 prescribe procedures for the granting of land in freehold. Decisions under sections 10 and 11 shall be registered by the Registrar of Titles under section 15. Communal land associations may be formed by a group of persons in accordance with sections 16 to 20. The establishment of such association shall be controlled by the Registrar or Titles and the association shall be managed by a managing committee. Disputes shall be resolved by the Registrar in accordance with section 21. The Association shall set aside land for common use (sect. 24) and manage such land in accordance with rules laid down in sections 25 to 27. The area set-aside shall be managed in accordance with a common land use scheme. Section 29 provides for the conversions of leasehold titles in freehold titles, whereas section 30 defines "lawful occupant" and bona-fide occupant". Section 31 to 39 concern some rights and duties of occupants of land including paying rent, security of tenancy, option to purchase, and identification of the owner. Sections 40 and 41 contain rule regarding transfer of land. A Land Fund is established under section 42. The Fund shall be managed by the Uganda land Commission established under the constitution. Section 45 provides for the holding in trust of land of environmentally sensitive areas including wetlands, forest reserves, national parks, by the Government or local government. The Uganda Land Commission is established as a body corporate (sect. 47); its functions are defined in section 50, and its powers in section 54. District Land Boards shall be established for each district under section 57. These Boards shall hold and allocate land in a district in accordance with section 60. In each parish Land Committees shall be established under section 65. Section 71 concerns the reservation of rights in springs, rivers, lakes, etc. by the Government subject to section 45. In each district a Land Tribunal shall be established in accordance with section 75. Jurisdiction of such courts are defined in section 77. Tribunals shall also be established for sub-counties and gazetted urban areas (sects. 81 and 82). Section 90 spells out the function of Mediators appointed by Land Tribunals. Miscellaneous provisions deal with matters of registration, offences, and regulation making powers of the Minister responsible for lands.