This describes the digitization process at the Ministry of Lands in Uganda. This was my coursework for Masters of science in Information Science.

1. Digitization at the
Ministry of Lands
Case study of the Digital Mapping Project and the National Land
Information System (NLIS)
By Geofrey Kasumba

2. Presentation Outline
•Introduction
•Digitalization project at MLHUD (about
Shs98b)
•What advantages does that software seek to
offer?
•What challenges have been encountered in
the digitization process?

3. Introduction
Digitization refers to the conversion of an item printed text, a manuscript, an
image, or sound, film and video recording from one format (usually print or
analogue) to digital ( Pakesh, 2002).
The Land Information System (LIS) was introduced against the background that
less than 20 per cent of the land in Uganda is registered. The land titles are
transferred for conversion into digital copies as part of the Land ministry's
computerized Land Information System (LIS). The exercise aims at minimizing
land-related conflicts in the country, forgery of land titles and the red-tape in
searching for land information among others. The system integrates land
registration, land administration, surveying and mapping, physical planning, and
property valuation and land records.

4. Digitization process at the land registry
at the Ministry of lands in Uganda
The process basically involves taking a physical object like land titles and essentially
making an electronic photograph’ of it. An image of the physical object is captured using a
scanner or digital camera and converted to digital format that can be stored electronically
and accessed using software via a computer to allow the access needs of the majority of
users to be met by use of the digitized access copy.
• The documents are transported under strict security to a centralized location for digital
conversion. The documents are further sorted and assigned a unique barcode label that is
entered into an inventory control database. The database utilizes Afresco software to
record the details of each file including the type and locality of file and to keep track of
the file throughout the conversion process.
• The documents are then assessed for authenticity, a check is made to ensure they are
complete and their condition is evaluated. The condition of the files varies considerably
largely dependent on the age of the documents and they are then stored. Damaged
documents, especially maps, are carefully restored by staff with an expertise in
restoration. The documents are then scanned using large format and heavy duty scanners.

5. Source: MLHUD 2017

6. Some of the Land Records include;
Land Records
• Land titles/ Freehold / Leasehold titles
• Land administration records
• Cadastral maps
• Job recorded jackets
• Physical planning and land valuation
maps and records
• Geological, soils and topographic maps
Converted/Digistised to;
• JRJs
• 2. LAFs
• 3. Titles
• 4. Map sheets

7. ABOUT THE DIGITIZATION SOFTWARE
(Innola)
Innola platform provides a full set of functionality for all types of land
administration tasks, such as cadastral operations, property registration,
valuation of property, and physical planning. This platform is based solely
on a stack of proven open source tools built with modern technologies.
The main system features are as follows:

8. Operation System – Linux or MS Windows
Database System – PostgreSQL + PostGIS in default configuration, but can be changed to any othe
DBMS, supported by Hibernate
Web Application Server – Tomcat by default
GIS Server – GeoServer or can be changed to ESRI ARCGIS, or other supported WMS
Content Management Server – Alfresco CMS or Amazon S3
Object Relational Mapping – Hibernate
Workflow Engine – Alfresco Activity
Report Engine – BIRT
Business Rules Engine – Jboss Drools
Proxy and Load Balance Server – NGINX
Thin Client – any HTML5/CSS3 compatible Web Browser
optionally – Windows-based scanning client

9. The software provides a tightly integrated cadastral
management functionality and data model to include the
cadastral surveying tasks, land valuation and physical planning
requirements for land registration review and approvals. The
NLIS has been configured around an Open-Source and full-web
(utilizing HTML5/CSS3/JavaScript).Innola platform provides a
full set of functionality for all types of land administration
tasks, such as cadastral operations, property registration,
valuation of property, and physical planning. This platform is
based solely on a stack of proven open source tools built with
modern technologies. The software is positioned as an
enterprise integration platform for Land Administration
domain and runs on linux operating system and uses
PostgreSQL database.

10. Advantages of the software
Transparent land record management.
Instant retrieval of land related information,
A single window to handle land records, including maintenance and updating
of maps, survey and registration of properties.
Easier online approvals of plans and occupancy certificates.
Clarity over ownership status.
Establishment of audit trail of land transactions,
Greater ease of doing business in the sector, by making it simpler for the
developers and buyers to check the authenticity of the land or the property.
Improved service delivery in the ministry.

11. Challenges of the software
Software
• Drivers
• Interoperability with other
platforms like BPMN 2.0
• Migrating to Existing Databases
• Legal Issues.
• Security
• Upgrading software
•
Others
• Inadequate training and capacity
building. (260 staff trained)
• Inadequate ICT infrastructure.
• Lack of a plan for managing the
transition from paper to electronic
records.
• Scalability of the system.
• Backlog of undigitised records.

12. Digital mapping database and the NLIS

18. conclusion
• Digitization software at the ministry through the National Land
Information System (NLIS) has made a profound contribution to
the improvement of service delivery across the land sector with a
substantial reduction in the time required for land transactions,
minimization of opportunities for corruption, increase in
accountability and strengthening of tenure security.