Selling Trees on NFA Licence Land

Can I sell trees on NFA land?

You can pass planted trees to someone else, but you cannot sell the land. The NFA FAQ states: "Transferring land allocated for tree planting is not allowed." It then gives the alternative: "you may cancel your license and transfer your planted trees to another party", provided the new party agrees to the same conditions. The NFA also warns that allowing illegal activities on your plot may lead to cancellation of your licence.

This fits the way the law treats licences. Under section 41(1) of the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003 (section numbers here are from the ULII text as at 8 August 2003 and may differ in the 2023 revision), a responsible body may grant a licence for cutting or removing forest produce from a forest reserve or community forest, or for the sustainable use and management of the reserve. Section 41(3) says that nothing in the section vests in the licence holder "any privilege, right, title, interest or easement over the forest reserve" other than what the licence terms state. A licence holder therefore has no land title to sell. Land and Property forest listings follow the same idea for every forest: the sale is of the trees only, the land is not included, and the harvest deadline is negotiable with the seller.

If you want the wider picture of selling trees without selling land, see selling your trees without selling your land.

What do the licence terms usually say?

We could not find a published model licence or a list of standard terms on the NFA pages we opened, so we do not describe them as standard. What the Act says in general is that the responsible body, in accordance with regulations, prescribes the terms, conditions, rights and fees for a licence (section 41(2)), and that licences are offered through a fair, open and competitive process (section 42).

A seller should therefore read their own licence carefully and extract these items before offering trees.

• The licence area and boundaries, and the licence period.
• What the holder may do: plant, thin, harvest, sell produce.
• Fees or royalties payable, and to whom.
• Planting and management obligations, including any requirement to replant.
• Conditions on harvesting, such as approvals or notice.
• What happens on cancellation or expiry.

The NFA FAQ also says it may delay replanting to let stumps decay and needs enough funds, people and equipment before it starts replanting. That is about the NFA's own planting, but it shows that replanting timing is a managed matter on NFA land.

How does the cancel-and-transfer route work?

The NFA FAQ describes the route in one line and does not publish steps, forms or fees. Our reading of that line, which should be confirmed with the NFA in writing, is:

1. The licence holder and the buyer agree a price for the planted trees and a harvest plan.
2. The licence holder writes to the NFA to ask to cancel the licence and transfer the planted trees to the named buyer.
3. The NFA is asked to confirm that the buyer will take the licence conditions, or the same conditions in a new licence.
4. The sale completes only when the NFA has confirmed in writing, so the buyer is not left holding trees with no right of access.

This is an editorial summary, not an NFA procedure. We do not know how long it takes or whether a fee applies. Do not release the money until the NFA has replied. A staged payment, with the final part due on written NFA confirmation, protects both sides. Our guide on how to sell standing trees explains how sale terms are set.

Is the plantation inside a forest reserve? How to check

A central forest reserve is an area declared by the Minister, by statutory order and with the approval of Parliament, under section 6 of the Act. The NFA manages central forest reserves (section 54(1)(a)). A civic guide, The Citizen Report, says the NFA has a mandate for 506 central forest reserves totalling 1,262,090 hectares. It is undated, so use it only as a general indicator.

The NFA's own website lists its plantation groups (Bugamba, Mafuga, Mwenge, Katuugo, Lendu and South Busoga) but, on the pages we opened, shows no boundary map for central forest reserves. We therefore cannot point you to an online map, and we do not guess where reserves lie. To check a plantation, we suggest:

• Ask the seller for the licence or title and a survey sketch of the block.
• Write to the NFA and ask in plain words whether the block lies inside a central forest reserve and, if so, whether a licence exists in the seller's name.
• Ask the District Forest Officer. Our page on NFA or District Forest Officer explains who answers what.
• Visit the site with a surveyor who can read boundary marks. Book an escorted forest visit if you want help.

Be careful with any seller who says the trees are "private" while the land is inside a reserve. Section 43 of the Act makes it an offence to grow, cut, take or remove forest produce from a forest reserve or community forest without a licence, with a fine of up to thirty currency points or three years in prison, or both. A buyer who removes trees without the right paperwork could be exposed.

What should a buyer check before paying?

1. A copy of the licence, signed and in the seller's name, with its terms and expiry.
2. The NFA's written confirmation that the licence is in good standing and that the NFA accepts the transfer of the trees to you.
3. That you accept the same conditions and can meet them, including any fees and any duty to replant.
4. An agreed count of trees, by block, age and species. See how standing timber is valued.
5. Access for harvest, since you will not own the land. A licence gives only the rights in its terms.
6. Permits to cut and to move timber, as explained in our permits page.
7. A written contract that says who pays for each fee and what happens if the NFA refuses.

When you are ready, you can list your trees for sale, land not included, or browse forest and tree listings. None are published yet as of 3 November 2026. For other stands see our standing trees for sale guide. This is general information, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• Forest Trees for Sale in Uganda: Standing Pine and Eucalyptus
• Sell Your Trees Without Selling Your Land
• How to Sell Standing Trees in Uganda: Seller's Guide
• List Your Forest on Land & Property
• NFA or District Forest Officer: Who Regulates Your Trees?