The Commissioner for Land Registration has issued a directive to all Registrars of Titles across Uganda, halting the registration of any lease agreements issued by the Uganda Land Commission that lack prior written consent from the Attorney General.
The directive, contained in an internal memo dated April 14, 2026, follows a legal advisory issued by Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka on March 24, 2026, addressing concerns over the legality of lease agreements and contracts entered into by the Uganda Land Commission with private citizens.
“Reference is made to a letter dated the 24th day of March, 2026 from the Attorney General in respect to the above captioned matter.
It has advised that any Lease Agreement entered into by the Uganda Land Commission (Government) without advice of the Attorney General is null and void,” the memo reads.
According to the memo, any lease agreement concluded without the advice and consent of the Attorney General is considered “null and void.” Registrars have been expressly instructed not to process or register such leases unless they are accompanied by written confirmation of the Attorney General’s approval or supported by his written legal advice.
The legal advisory cites Article 239 of the Constitution, which mandates the Uganda Land Commission to hold and manage land vested in or acquired by the Government. However, it emphasizes that this mandate must be exercised in compliance with Article 119(5) of the Constitution.
Article 119(5) provides that no agreement, contract, treaty, or document—by whatever name called—to which the Government is a party or in which it has an interest, shall be concluded without legal advice from the Attorney General, except in such cases and under such conditions as Parliament may prescribe.
The Attorney General noted with concern that numerous lease agreements and contracts have been executed by the Uganda Land Commission without being submitted for such legal advice, contrary to constitutional requirements.
This legal position has also been reinforced by the Constitutional Court in the case of Nsimbe Holdings Ltd Vs Attorney General (Constitutional Petition No. 2 of 2006), where the Court held emphatically that any agreement or contract involving the Government that is concluded without the Attorney General’s input is invalid.
In light of this, the Commissioner for Land Registration reiterated that compliance with the Attorney General’s advisory is mandatory and takes immediate effect.
The directive aims to ensure that all future lease agreements involving the Uganda Land Commission meet constitutional standards and are legally enforceable.
Registrars of Titles have been urged to strictly adhere to the new guidance to prevent the registration of defective or unlawful land agreements.
