Government Moves to Register Real Estate Dealers

The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development is undertaking a countrywide registration of real estate dealers in one of the strategies to end fraud and the persistent land wrangles.

Gabindadde Musoke, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands says the registration that is expected to start in June, 2015 will follow a policy underlining guidelines and requirements for persons dealing in the real estate. According to the Ministry, the real estate industry in Uganda has been growing over the years but with no regulation.

Musoke is optimistic that the move will augment efforts to wipe-out fake dealers who take advantage of the absence of regulation in the industry to fleece the public.

“Some of these people are cheating Ugandans in bogus land deals. So we have to put them in order,” Musoke told Uganda Radio Network in an interview. He adds that currently, government does not know ‘who is who\' in Uganda\'s real estate sector, a result of which fraud in land sales is becoming rampant.

The move has equally been welcomed by a number of real estate dealers who argue that the registration is a step forward in their quest for recognition and elimination of quacks.

James Baguma, a member of the Ntinda-based Friendly Real Estate Group says the registration will add value to their work.

//Cue in: “for me it\'s a good idea…”

Cue out: …fake property dealers.”//

Martin Ochieng, the Director, Ebenezer Real Estate Ltd. commended government for the exercise saying it would develop the real estate industry. “As a real estate developer, I have no problem with this move as long as it will not affect our operations,” Ochieng stated.

Pius Makoni, the Manager, Pearl Associates, another real estate company wants the ministry to introduce punitive measures against people involved in dubious land deals while hiding within  the industry. He says many of them who operate from upcountry are seen as fraudsters because of the wrong elements that have infiltrated the business.