Uganda's Valuation Bill 2024: A Game-Changer for Professionalism in Valuation

Uganda’s valuation sector has reached a turning point. On September 4, 2025, Parliament passed the Valuation Bill, 2024, introducing sweeping reforms to bring order, professionalism, and reliability to a sector long plagued by loopholes. The law now awaits Presidential assent.

Why the Reform Was Needed

For years, valuation in Uganda - critical for land compensation, loans, property transactions, and public projects - has struggled with:

• Unreliable and unrealistic assessments.
• Delays in infrastructure projects.
• Financial losses and costly litigation.
• Weak training, missing practice standards, and an unclear path to professionalisation.

These flaws undermined government investments and weakened the real estate and financial markets.

What the Law Delivers

The new law, made up of 45 clauses and 2 schedules, is designed to fix these gaps and restore confidence. Key outcomes include:

• A regulated, professionalised valuation function.
• Stronger Office of the Chief Government Valuer (CGV), with a clear mandate on statutory valuations and compulsory land acquisitions.
• Creation of the Institute of Certified Valuers of Uganda (ICVU) to regulate members, set ethics, enforce standards, and promote continuous training.
• Clear membership criteria: new valuers must have relevant qualifications, one year of supervised practice, and pass exams to become Certified Valuers of Uganda (CVU).
• Practice licences and certificates required annually, with continuous professional development as a condition for renewal.
• A mandatory Code of Ethics and National Valuation Standards.
• A Reconciliation Committee to handle conflicting valuations.
• Strong penalties for false reporting, forgery, impersonation, or practicing without certification - with fines up to Shs100 million or imprisonment.
• Right of appeal for anyone aggrieved by valuation decisions.

The Bigger Picture

Once signed into law, the Valuation Bill will professionalise the sector, strengthen institutions, and boost trust in valuation services. It is expected to improve efficiency in real estate markets, financial lending, and land acquisition processes, while reducing costly disputes and litigation.