On Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024, Geoconsult International, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, held a significant seminar at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Kampala to present updates on the “Procurement of Orthorectified High Resolution Satellite Imagery Mosaic for Uganda (OReSIM)” project. This event, part of the National Stakeholder Seminar on Digital Imagery, was funded by the World Bank under the Land Component of the Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project – Additional Financing (CEDP-AF). The primary goal of the project is to modernize Uganda’s land administration systems through the integration of advanced satellite imagery, which will greatly enhance the country’s planning, development, and governance capabilities.
During the seminar, key representatives presented the successful acquisition of orthorectified satellite imagery mosaic with a remarkable 30cm Ground Sample Distance (GSD) resolution, covering the entire country. This high-resolution imagery is expected to revolutionize land-use planning, streamline property registration processes, and contribute significantly to resolving land conflicts. It was highlighted that the project has the potential to increase property tax revenue by up to 70%, benefiting both state and local authorities, and providing a more secure and sovereign land information system. The imagery will also safeguard property rights, contributing to national and local governance while supporting sustainable development goals.
Mr. Toko Godfrey, a cartographer, provided a detailed overview of the OReSIM project, emphasizing that this Initiative is a critical step in modernizing Uganda’s land administration systems. Building on the successes of the Base Mapping Project (BMP), which ran from 2015 to 2018, the OReSIM project addresses the challenges posed by outdated geospatial data that no longer meets the current demands and standards of land management and planning. The BMP had made significant strides by introducing accurate orthophotos for quality control and improving data sharing; however, the data produced under the BMP is now outdated, creating a pressing need for updated geospatial information.
The seminar also provided an opportunity for participants to understand the challenges in specific regions, such as the Albertine Graben, Karamoja, and wildlife restoration areas, where there is a high demand for updated aerial datasets. The outdated data has hindered socio-economic transformation, impacting community development and national projects that rely on accurate geospatial information. The OReSIM project aims to bridge these gaps by providing not only orthorectified satellite imagery at 30cm resolution but also contour data at 10-meter intervals and a Digital Terrain Model (DTM). This initiative will serve as a baseline for the regular updating of topographic, cadastral, and thematic maps, while also promoting capacity-building for stakeholders.
The economic and social benefits of the OReSIM project were emphasized during the seminar. The high-resolution satellite imagery is expected to support public investment consolidation, promote modern agriculture, and facilitate sustainable resource management. Moreover, it will enhance infrastructure and service planning, tackle land conflicts, and improve border security through precise geospatial data. The technology will also play a pivotal role in tourism and wildlife management, supporting the country’s efforts to protect its natural resources and improve access to investment opportunities. By streamlining administrative processes, the project is also expected to reduce conflicts and enable the adoption of mechanized farming techniques, which could boost agricultural productivity.
Mr. Magemeso Ibrahim, delivering a speech on behalf of the Acting Commissioner for Surveys and Mapping, Jasper Kakooza, discussed the critical issue of outdated satellite and aerial imagery in Uganda’s national mapping system. He explained how outdated maps, particularly those dating back to the 1960s and 1970s, fail to reflect the country’s rapid urban expansion and infrastructure developments. These maps have created significant gaps in data, leading to inaccurate planning and difficulties in scaling land registration efforts. Ibrahim stressed the importance of updating these maps to reflect Uganda’s current realities, supporting Vision 2040 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ibrahim also highlighted the ministry’s efforts under the OReSIM project to acquire high-resolution satellite imagery and use modern geospatial technologies to create accurate geospatial products. These products will be shared with government agencies, international partners, and stakeholders to enhance planning and decision-making. Furthermore, he mentioned the ministry’s use of the Fit-for-Purpose (FFP) survey methodology, which prioritizes practicality and inclusivity, and has been successful in simplifying data collection and engaging communities to improve land tenure security.
In his presentation, Mr. Richard Oput, on behalf of the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, discussed the various types of maps currently available in Uganda, including topographic maps, cadastral maps, and specialized maps for tourism and soil studies. He noted that the country faces several challenges in the mapping sector, including outdated infrastructure, high acquisition costs for mapping tools, and poor-quality legacy data. Oput emphasized the need to modernize mapping processes to address the shorter lifecycle of environmental and socio-economic data. He also proposed the creation of a national spatial data infrastructure (NSDI) and integrated geospatial information frameworks (IGIF) to strengthen Uganda’s geospatial management capacity.
Oput also reviewed the ministry’s accomplishments in mapping, such as the successful mapping of Kampala and Jinja, aerial photography of 600 square kilometers, and the establishment of a geodetic control network with 36 points. These achievements have facilitated the production of digital topographic maps and the integration of cadastral information. The ministry has also implemented the Uganda Land Information System (UgNLIS), which has streamlined processes such as land title batch processing and land valuation.
In closing, Oput reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to leveraging digital mapping technologies for innovation, sustainability, and economic transformation. He underscored the importance of geospatial data in supporting development projects and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. The seminar was a vital step towards aligning Uganda’s land administration systems with global standards, ensuring that the country can make informed decisions that will drive its socio-economic development.
