The Kisoro district LCV chairperson Abel Bizimana has commended the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban development for considering Kisoro district in Land registration exercise in order for residents to obtain Certificates of Customary ownership (CCO).
A total of 7,088 certificates of Customary Land Ownership were officially registered in the four Sub Counties of Muramba, Nyakinama (Bufumbira South) Murora and Nyakabande (Bufumbira East)
Bizimana revealed that land conflicts in Kisoro district have clogged the legal system right from Police, state Attorney’s office to the courts of law.
He noted that due to the severity of land issues, lives have been lost while other members of the community, especially women have been left destitute and hopeless.
Bizimana castigated the Police in Kisoro and the office of the Probation who continue to ask for money from unsuspecting and vulnerable women which is illegal and needs to be stopped.
Kisoro district Chief Administrative officer (CAO) Onzu Ismael Musa commended all the Stakeholders involved who ensured the Land act of 1998 was put to effective use resulting in the generation of Certificates of Customary Ownership.
Onzu said communities need to know the value of Certification of customary land ownership in Kisoro because it is recognized by law and can be used by beneficiaries to develop themselves.
Kisoro district Senior Land Management Officer Thomas Sekabanza said 10 other sub counties in the district did not benefit from this land mark project that needs to be reinstituted to ensure more households benefit.
Sekabanza noted that this project is a right step towards ending land conflicts in the district.
Registration of Customary land in the four Sub Counties was made possible through the Collaborative efforts of UN Habitat, Global Land Tool Network and Makerere University aimed at improving the tenure security of smallholder farmers in the district.
Bufumbira East Member of Parliament Hon. Dr. James Nsaba Buturo who doubled as the guest of Honor said the certification of customary land ownership is a great opportunity for sub counties, town councils and residents to generate much needed revenue to boast the local economy in improve standards of living.
Makerere University’s lecturer in the Department of Geomatics and Land Management Brian Makabayi says it would be wise for the district leadership to ensure that 50% of the revenue collections is reinvested back into the sub counties to ensure sustainability and continuity of projects.
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