Innovations: corporate land portal to enable corporates get land through mortgage

KAMPALA - The Ministry of Lands Housing and Urban Development has introduced a portal targeting corporate clients interested in acquiring land through a mortgage.  

The aim is to reduce time taken to register mortgages across the country.

This was revealed by the minister of state for lands Sam Mayanja, while officiating the opening ceremony of the Home and Housing expo, organised by Vision Group. 

The expo, themed Affordable Housing, Innovations and Technology that is ongoing at the Millennium Park field, ends today (Sunday), attracted exhibitors from different sections of the housing and construction value chain including Hima Cement, Gentex, Multiple Industries, Housing Finance Bank, Post bank among others.

Home and Housing expo facilitators Verna Mbabazi and Chris Akugizibwe. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

“The corporate portal, specifically designed for corporate clients, can now carry out all transactions related to mortgages till they are successful online without physically visiting the bank. The portal also benefits the survey department, as survey instructions can now be requested and processed online, eliminating delays caused by manual procedures among others,” Mayanja said.

He explained that the portal is one of the many innovations that the ministry plans to roll out country-wide to create efficient, transparent ways of handling land-related conflicts and concerns so as to support the housing sector and later boost economic growth.

“These digital innovations underscore the Ministry’s commitment to creating an efficient, transparent, and client-centred land administration system that directly supports the housing sector and the broader economy,” Mayanja said.

Other innovations that the ministry has introduced include the digital National Land Information System (NLIS), which allows clients to access land information conveniently from the comfort of their homes.

While attending the training sessions, some participants wanted the lands ministry to explain the role of Resident District Commissioners and local council leaders when it comes to purchasing land, but also while they choose to resolve conflicts related to land without consulting land owners. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

“Citizens can carry out online searches to verify land ownership, acreage, and encumbrances, as well as confirm whether any transactions are ongoing on a particular property,” Mayanja added.

The expo is an annual event, organised by Vision Group, where different stakeholders in the housing and construction value chain are brought under one roof, to interface with experts who include legal experts on land matters, compound designers, manufacturers of building and construction materials, suppliers of household items among other.

While welcoming the minister to the audience, the deputy managing director of Vision Group, Gervase Ndyanabo said the expo is aimed at helping people learn how to manage issues around land, but also learn how to value and utilise their pieces of land.

He also applauded the Ministry of lands for streamlining land processes through the various innovations being brought on board to know from the expo.

While attending the training sessions, some participants wanted the lands ministry to explain the role of Resident District Commissioners and local council leaders when it comes to purchasing land, but also while they choose to resolve conflicts related to land without consulting land owners.

“Why do RDCS and LCs offer to intervene in land matters without the presence of the landowner? Often, as far as purchases in land matters are concerned, RDCS are seen intervening whenever there is some issue without informing landlords,” said a participant who only preferred to be known by one name, Amupeire.  

Another expo-goer wanted to know why tax systems applied when buying items like cars are almost the same processes used when purchasing things like vegetables.

Many of the questions were answered during the training sessions.

The Homes and Construction Expo 2024 was sponsored by Pepsi.