Stamp Duty Amendment Bill 2026: What it means for land buyers in Uganda

23 May 2026, 12:05 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The 11th Parliament of Uganda passed 166 Bills, among them the Stamp Duty Amendment Bill 2026. Following the passing of the Bill, the Manager of Genuine Estates Uganda Limited has explained what the new law means for ordinary Ugandans intending to buy land and acquire land titles.

Speaking to reporters at the company’s headquarters in Wakiso District, the manager, Bazade William, said that although the Bill will take effect on July 1, 2026, Ugandans still have a chance to transfer their land titles before the deadline.

He encouraged landowners and buyers to utilize the remaining time before the new rates come into force.

“As Genuine Estates Uganda Limited, regarding the Stamp Duty Amendment Bill 2026, we are giving chances to our clients who have not yet transferred land titles into their names. We encourage them to bring the land titles so that we can process the transfer. There is also an opportunity for those who bought land from other companies to come to us for transfer services at a reasonable discount. Remember, you only have this month, which is about to end,” Bazade said.

According to the Bill, the stamp duty charged on land title transfers has been increased from 1.5 percent to 3 percent. This means that a person who was previously paying UGX 1 million for a title transfer may now pay about UGX 2 million, depending on the size and value of the land.

Bazade also emphasized the importance of land ownership among Ugandans.

“Whatever you would like to do, you will need space. That is why we are here to provide affordable land to Ugandans. We have served Ugandans for the last 25 years, and we thank God for that experience. This year, we decided to make things easier for Ugandans through different campaigns,” he explained.

He noted that the company works with partner banks to help clients finance land purchases, provided the buyer can raise at least 30 percent of the total cost.

Bazade further revealed another savings arrangement where clients can save UGX 500,000 every month for 12 months. At the end of the saving period, the company provides them with a plot of land valued between UGX 6 million and UGX 8 million, with the balance to be paid later.

Meanwhile, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics recently launched the Uganda Harmonized Integrated Survey (UHIS) Report 2021/22–2024/25.

Speaking during the release of the report, the Executive Director, Dr. Chris Mukiiza, said the report provides comprehensive evidence on household welfare, agricultural production, and labour statistics in the country.

“We give people the data that is needed, not what they want. I thank the team for the work well done,” Dr. Mukiiza said.

The report indicates that Eastern Uganda remains the poorest region in the country. It also reveals that among learners who were in Primary Seven in 2022, about 25 percent are no longer in school. However, of those who were in Senior Four, at least 41 percent are still in school.

The launch was chaired by Albert Byamugisha and attended by a limited number of guests, including Deputy Executive Director Vincent Fred Sennono, due to the Ebola outbreak in Eastern Congo.