Frequently asked questions

The law mandates government (Ministry of Lands and Urban Development) to issue land titles for mailo land. Titles are for the registered owner, not the Kibanja owner. The law recognizes tenants in two categories (Lawful occupant and Bona fide occupant) but does not provide a government document for Kibanja ownership.

Solvent determines Kibanja ownership using the legal categories, documents ownership through consent from local leadership, neighbours and family, and conducts surveys to determine size and boundaries. Where appropriate, Solvent works with the registered owner to issue a certificate of occupancy. Certificates are signed by regulated professional surveyors and lawyers who vet the information.

Solvent has a number of lawyers and land surveyors with many years of experience in land matters. A team consisting of at least one lawyer or surveyor shall hold a meeting with the conflicting sides and give them legal guidance to help them come to a common ground. If one of the clients in conflict has a Kibanja certificate from Solvent, information collected will be used to enable the conflicting parties get a proper clarification. Solvent charges a small fee for arbitration as determined from time to time.

Evictions normally occur due to ignorance of the Kibanja Owner of his or her rights or poor documentation. Solvent helps you properly document ownership of your Kibanja well before any conflict may erupt. Solvent can also be an arbitrator between the evictor and evictee to ensure issues do not reach courts of law; this is done at a small fee. Court representation is offered to clients registered on Solvent's land information system who hold a Kibanja certificate.

Solvent's survey exercise is divided into Ownership establishment, Kibanja survey and boundary marking, and Database registration with KSDR certificate and Certificate of Occupancy. Costs depend on size. Minimum: UGX 500,000 for 1 acre and UGX 100,000 for each additional acre. This includes 4 marker stones, database registration and KSDR certificate. Additional marker stones cost UGX 10,000 each. Transport is charged at UGX 5,000 per kilometer from the nearby station and can be shared among multiple clients surveyed the same day.

Solvent can help throughout the process of getting letters of administration. The process has legal requirements which Solvent follows closely. We guide family meetings, district consultations, the Administrator General and family court steps. Costs depend on estate size; payment can be in cash or in kind (land). Visit our office for detailed guidance and a tailored estimate.

The certificate of occupancy shows the size of land the landlord has allowed the Kibanja owner to use and indicates landlord acknowledgement. It prevents the tenant from transferring ownership without notifying the landlord as required by law. The certificate is not a transfer form.

Solvent follows professional standards and employs regulated professionals. We perform analysis, checks and quality control on collected data. Services follow the Ugandan legal framework and certificates include security features; agents can explain these features when you collect your certificate.

Solvent follows a strict confidentiality code of practice. Client information is kept with the highest level of confidentiality and used only for the intended purpose. We do not share client data with third parties outside the scope of the service without consent.

Land price depends on demand and supply, confidence in information about the land, and proof of ownership. Solvent improves confidence by providing accurate surveyed size, true boundaries and verified ownership, which reduces fraud and increases market trust in the land's value.

Solvent takes a maximum of 10 working days to prepare the certificate. Certificates are picked up in person by the registered Kibanja owner from our head or regional office; Solvent does not deliver certificates in the field. The collector must present an original national ID. You will receive a message when the certificate is ready. Certificates include security features to prevent forgery; ask an agent to explain them.

The KSDR certificate is issued by Solvent to a Kibanja owner and shows particulars of the Kibanja and ownership after survey and registration on the global land database. The certificate of occupancy shows that the landlord recognizes and has given permission to the Kibanja owner to be on the land and bears the landlord's signature.

Kibanja owners fall into two categories under the Land Act:

1. Lawful occupant: entered the land with the consent of the registered owner (includes purchasers). Ownership is ascertained by purchase agreements, wills and neighbourhood recognition.
2. Bona fide occupant: occupied and used land unchallenged for 12+ years before the 1995 Constitution or was settled by government/local authority. Ownership is ascertained by records (e.g., Busuulu) and neighbourhood attestation.

Yes. Solvent's team of surveyors and lawyers can assist with land registration needs including preliminary and detailed surveys, transfers and subdivisions. Solvent also offers land management services for lands which have tenants.

Consolidation can occur when tenants agree to give part of their Kibanja to the landlord or agree to be bought out. Solvent's sociologists and field teams handle negotiations, documentation and settlement to consolidate ownership in a profitable and legally sound way.

Landlords are entitled to a free landlord information certificate after paying for boundary opening, provided the land has been surveyed by Kibanja owners. The certificate is ready in 8 working days and is picked up from our office. Updated tenant information is available on payment of UGX 100,000.

Please get in touch with us and we will answer your queries. Email: solventug@gmail.com or call +256 784 714 331.

We are located in Namanve Industrial Park — Kiwanga, Off Jomayi stones. P.O Box 129, Mukono, Uganda (Near Sadoline paints).