Judith Nabakoba ( African wear) handing over certificate of customary ownership to a woman as Minister of state for economic monitoring , Beatrice Akello (in black Gomesi) look on. All Photos by Walter Okot
By Walter Okot
Agago
The government, through the Ministry of Land, Housing, and Urban Development, intends to register and issue certificates to 275,000 landowners in Northern Uganda by 2026.
In 2020, the Ministry of Lands Housing and Urban Development launched the registration of customary land ownership in Wol and Paimol Sub-Counties in Agago district.
With financial support from the EU and the United National Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) the pilot phase of the registration Certificates of Customary Ownership (CCOs) was issued to 1,017 individuals, and families, including two clans; Karuge Katugu and Lwara Kare. The collective size of land registered under the program totaled 22,000 acres.
CCO’s to stop land grabbing
While issuing the CCOs to land owners in Kalongo Town Council on Thursday, Judith Nabakooba, the Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development, said the customary land registration will stop land grabbing and land disputes, and bring peace and productivity in families and communities.
“… families and communities will enage in producing surplus food for sale, knowing that no one will destroy their crops through acts of illegal land evictions,” Nabakooba said.
Nabakooba said although the pilot project ended, the government will continue to work to ensure that more acres of land are identified, registered, and documented as proof of legal ownership under customary land tenure to prevent land grabbing.
“This is the best way to secure customary ownership rights and prevent public outcry, including stopping the abuse, stealing, or grabbing of customary land by unscrupulous individuals, speculators, and fraudulent land dealers,” she said.
The minister pledged that the Ministry of Lands shall build the capacities of the Acholi Land Management Institutions and the traditional institutions to mediate and resolve any disputes as provided for under the Land Act.
Judiciary to support the move
Chief Justice, Alfonse Owiny Dollo, said the judiciary would fully support the ministry by explaining to the people the importance of having a title of customary land and also allay their fears that the land title could mean the land belongs to the government.
Dollo advised the Acholi against selling their land but urged them to lease out to investors for a specific period so that after their contract agreement expired, they claim back their land.
Beatrice Akello Akori, the State Minister for Economic Monitoring in the Office of the President, said the issuing of certificates of land ownership will reduce conflicts as most cases in court in the Acholi sub-region are land-related.
Leonard Opiyo Ojok, the Agago district chairman said the initiative is good given the scramble for land in the district by investors, something he says is causing a lot of animosity, anger, and impending insecurity.
Elijah Olaa, the L.C 3 Kalongo Town Council requested the government to reduce the cost of processing the customary land title so that all people get the certificate of land.
What land owners say
Esther Oyella, a resident of Kokil village, Pacabol parish in Paimol sub-county who processed the certificate of her 79 acres of land said she is now free from land conflicts because her neighbors used to encroach on her land during the farming season.
George Odong Otto, the chairperson of the land committee for the Karuke Katugu clan in Aringa East village, Ngora parish in Paimol sub-county who processed the certificate of their clan land which has 925.16 acres said they only spent 15, 000 shillings to process the land title.
He said although the process was delayed, he is happy that their land is now protected and now they have a certificate of their land which they can lease out to investors.
“Our purpose in seeking for this registration is to ensure that the land becomes protected from land grabbers and those who forcefully acquire land. Now that we have the land registered, we can now rent it to investors at a good price that can benefit the clan,” Odong said.
