Community sensitization on Land titling in Unyama Sub County Gulu district. Photo by Scovia Akwero

By Scovia Akwero

Gulu

Government of the republic of Uganda, through the ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has rolled out a program of sensitization of the public in Northern Uganda ‘’Acholi Sub-region’’ on the registration of customary land.

The government will facilitate the costs of land registration where applicants will only pay 10,000shs as an application fee. According to Louella Ataro, the senior registry of titles at the ministry, the ministry of Lands is looking at vision 2040 where everyone should achieve middle income status. ‘’land titling is really very important because once you have certificate of title then you can be able to develop yourself and we are here as ministry of lands to look at vision 2040 where everybody should achieve income status by 2040.

The constitution under article 237 says every citizen of Uganda is entitle to land and so based on that; titling has become part of the job of ministry of lands. The constitution provides for four land tenure system’’



Officials from the Land Ministry engaging the masses on registration of customary land.

Justine Kidega, the chairperson LC111 Unyama sub-county Gulu district who started the process of his land registration disclosed that Unyama sub-county, Paicho sub-county, and Awach sub-county will pilot the program in Gulu district and he encouraged the community of Unyama sub-county to embrace and take up the opportunity. ‘’I visited Gulu Regional office. I was impressed by the way workers relate with clients. I was also able to pick forms of registration of land certificate of customary ownership. This is a program of government to support citizens register lands with costs on government, with this I therefore, want to encourage you to positively take this land registration seriously,” he added.

Micheal Lakony, the chairperson LC5 Amuru District disclosed that he spends 60% of his work time handling land issues citing that this program will ease his work. ‘’This is really a nice program because per-now I handle almost 60% of my work time on land related matters. So, by issuing land certificate, it means it will reduce the cases of our concentration on land and we will take to really developmental issues.’’