Awareness week raises questions about Land ownership, Wetland use in Kisoro

By Gerard Niyirinda

 A section of residents from Nyakabande and Kanaba Sub Counties in Kisoro district yesterday raised pertinent questions about access to formal and customary land titles.

The residents also asked about usage of wetlands for Cultivation, an act the Government strongly considers illegal but has never put a firm foot down.

The residents of Nyakabande and Kanaba largely depend on Cultivation for their livelihood. Kanaba is best known for growing Onions, Irish potatoes and Beans while Nyakabande grows Irish Potatoes, Maize and Beans.

The residents are also heavily dependent on the wetlands to grow Sweet potatoes, yams, Vegetables, Sorghum and tea.

Some of the wetlands that are experiencing serious human activity include Rugege and Gitundwe in Nyakabande as well as Sereri, Karwa- Chajenje, Kirumbi, Lake Chahafi and Kayumbu in Kanaba.

The Nyakabande LC III chairperson Ntawera Funi said wetland use for cultivation has been a major source of conflict especially for small households in Kisoro that do not own land.

According to Funi, families cultivate food for both home and market and anyone who threatens this source of livelihood, threatens their way of life.

Ntawera said land conflicts are fueled by lack of knowledge and understanding about how the land should be used and protected.

He urged the communities to ask relevant questions to avoid being caught off guard in the future by shrewd and ruthless people wanting to grab land from them.

Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Commissioner in-charge of Communications Dennis Obbo said the process of getting a certificate of customary land ownership is practical and easy to follow.

Obbo noted that getting a land title will reduce cases of domestic violence as a result of land wrangles.

Recent statistics indicate that nearly 80% of households in Uganda do not have land titles which has led to the clogging of courts with land cases that are nearly impossible to settle.

Nabasa Rodgers, a land lawyer described a land tittle as a legal document that helps the land owner to use the land in whatever he or she chooses.

Mr. Nabasa commended partners like (ESSAF) Uganda, ACFODE and PELUM for dispensing vital knowledge to Ugandans about land rights.

The teams, including officials from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, East and Southern Africa Small Scale farmers’ Forum (ESAFF), Action for development (ACFODE) and (PELUM) Uganda are today sensitizing communities in Nyarusiza and Kisoro Municipality.