Can a Child Own Land in Uganda?

Can I register land in my child's name?

Yes, in most cases. The Registration of Titles Act (Cap. 230) expects that titles may be issued to children. Section 55 says the proprietor of land is entitled to a certificate of title and that, if a certificate is issued to a minor or to a person under any other disability, the registrar shall state the age of the minor or the nature of the disability so far as known. Section 9 allows an application to bring certain land under the Act to be made by the guardian of an infant, provided the application is made on behalf of the infant and the certificate is directed to issue in the infant's name.

In customary land, the Land Act (Cap. 236, as at 31 December 2023) also protects children. Section 27 says that a decision which denies women or children or persons with a disability access to ownership, occupation or use of land is null and void, and section 5(1)(g) requires the committee that handles an application for a certificate of customary ownership to safeguard the interests and rights of women, absent persons, minors and persons with a disability.

Practical points when you register for a child:

• Use the child's full name exactly as on the birth certificate, so you do not need to correct the name on the land title later.
• State the date of birth on the transfer, as the registrar must note the age.
• Appoint and name the person who will manage the land.

For the legal framework, read our guide to the Land Act in Uganda.

Who manages the land while the child is a minor?

A child cannot manage land alone. The usual manager is a parent or a legal guardian. The Registration of Titles Act helps protect the child in a few ways. Under section 170(1) the registrar may lodge a caveat on behalf of any person under the disability of infancy, to prohibit the transfer or dealing with land belonging, or supposed to belong, to that person, and also where an error has been made in the title or to prevent fraud or improper dealing. Section 187 extends the time for some compensation claims for a person under the disability of infancy until six years from the end of the disability, so long as the claim is brought within thirty years of the deprivation.

Day to day, the guardian should:

1. Keep the original title in a safe place, in the child's interest, and make a record of who holds it. If it is lost, act quickly; see what to do if you lose your land title.
2. Pay ground rent, rates and any fees on time, and keep receipts.
3. Not borrow against the land, rent it long term or sell it unless a lawyer confirms the step is allowed and in the child's interest.
4. Keep a simple written account of any income from the land.

A guardian is expected to act for the child, not for himself or herself, and a court is likely to look hard at any dealing that benefits the guardian.

Can a minor sell land, and can I sell it for my child?

A minor cannot sign a binding transfer. If land is registered in the child's name and a sale is needed, for example to pay school fees or care costs, the usual route is to ask the High Court for authority. In reported High Court family decisions on ULII, parents have applied to be appointed guardian and to be allowed to sell or deal with land registered in a minor's name, and the courts have judged the application by the child's welfare, sometimes after hearing the child. We could not open those judgments in full for this page, so ask an advocate to check the latest decisions and the exact steps in your court.

That is why the point matters for buyers too. If a seller offers land registered in a child's name, ask for:

• The court order appointing the guardian and authorising the sale.
• The child's birth certificate and the title showing the age or the note of minority.
• Proof that the money will go to the child's benefit.

Without the court order, the buyer may be exposed to a challenge when the child grows up. Ask the registry what it will need before it registers a transfer, and see how to transfer mailo land for the normal steps. For a gift of land to a child, see giving land to family.

What are the alternatives to registering in the child's name?

Parents often prefer to keep control while the child is young. Common options are below, and each has trade-offs that an advocate should explain.

A will is another tool for passing land after death, and it works separately from a lifetime registration. Land still in your name when you die is dealt with under your will or the law on succession, so ask an advocate how your plan fits with that law. This page does not cover succession rules in detail.

What should diaspora parents check about citizenship?

If your child was born abroad or holds another passport, check citizenship before you register. Section 41 of the Land Act says a non-citizen may acquire only a lease, for not more than 99 years, and shall not acquire or hold mailo or freehold land (section 41(3) and (4)). A citizen who holds freehold or mailo land and later ceases to be a citizen sees that tenure converted automatically into a 99-year lease from the date citizenship ends (section 41(6)). A company with no restriction on share transfers to non-citizens is also treated as a non-citizen (section 41(7)).

So, if a child may not be a Ugandan citizen, registering mailo or freehold land in that child's name could fail or later convert to a lease. Our guide to dual citizenship and land in Uganda explains the position for families with more than one passport. Where dual citizenship is not clear, ask an advocate before paying.

Also think about signing from abroad. A power of attorney carries stamp duty of UGX 15,000 in the Uganda Revenue Authority's October 2024 leaflet, and it must name the land and the powers clearly.

Where do I start?

Start with the title, the child's birth certificate, and your own National ID. Choose the structure, get an advocate to draft the transfer or trust, and take advice on stamp duty from URA. Plan for the child's future: the land should be safe, documented and easy to manage.

In Land & Property listings, Nov 2026, we show 21 plots, of which 18 are mailo and 1 is freehold, and 2 do not state a tenure; all would need a title search before you place them in a child's name. You can browse plot listings, or ask our team on WhatsApp or by email if you need help with checks before you buy for a child.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• Uganda Land Law and Land Titles Explained
• Giving Land to Family: Gifts and Transfers
• Putting Land in Both Spouses' Names
• Dual Citizenship and Land Ownership in Uganda
• Correcting Errors on a Land Title
• Lost Your Land Title? What to Do in 2026