You may think you're being flexible. But calling land "multipurpose" might be the biggest mistake you're making.

Stat data shows that most buyers on the Real Estate Database (RED) are not looking for land that "can be used for anything." They're usually looking for land that serves one specific purpose, and they want to find it fast.

When you upload land as MULTIPURPOSE LAND without a clear reason, you risk making your listing invisible to serious buyers, here's why.

Take this example: A real estate agent listed a five-acre plot in Kayunga as "Multipurpose Land." Weeks passed with no interest. After reclassifying it as "Agricultural Land," and updating the description to highlight its fertile soil and proximity to a water source, the inquiries came within 24 hours. The land was sold within a month.

Buyers searching for land on RED often filter by purpose, residential, agricultural, industrial. When your listing is marked "Multipurpose land," It kind of vanishes from the relm of useful land. You're essentially removing it from the hands of those who need it most.

Consider this: When was the last time someone told you they were looking to buy land for everything? Most are looking for something. To build a home. To farm. To start a warehouse. To grow a project.

You will notice that the RED gives you more than nine purpose-specific land categories to choose from, so there's rarely a reason to default to "Multipurpose Land."

Instead, use a category that clearly reflects the land's most suitable use. These categories include: Residential Land, Commercial Land, Agricultural Land, Industrial Land, Recreational Land, Farm, Island, Joint Investment Land, and more. 

Each of these categories speaks directly to a buyer's intent. Someone searching for an island getaway isn't going to browse listings under "Multipurpose." A farmer looking for acreage with fertile soil won't bother with vague classifications.

Using the right category increases visibility, narrows down leads to serious buyers, and helps your property sell faster. Why hide behind "Multipurpose" when RED gives you everything you need to be specific and strategic?

The only place where "Multipurpose" makes sense is in urban zones, where land could realistically be used for a mall, apartments, a fuel station, or even a hotel. Kampala, for instance, has neighborhoods where zoning laws are flexible. A plot in Bukoto could become a high-end duplex or a retail space. In such cases, labeling it as "Multipurpose" makes sense, and can even boost interest.

But rural or peri-urban land often has one clear dominant use. A 10-acre piece in Kayunga isn't going to attract the same buyer pool as land in Kyanja. Upload it as agricultural. Or residential. Let the listing work for you.

Agents who get it right are the ones who understand buyer intent. They're not trying to be clever with vague categories. They're strategic. They tag properties according to how the majority of buyers think.

So ask yourself: Is your land truly multipurpose, or are you just unsure how to categorize it?

If you want your listings to show up where buyers are actually searching, take the time to assign the right category. It's a simple decision, but it could be the difference between a stagnant listing and a fast sale.