However, in the land awareness meeting in Moroto, several people argued that the land titles could be forged and fraudulently acquired through ignorance of the community.
Karimojong have demanded the authenticity of 456 land titles
issues in Karamoja sub-region.
The demand follows declaration by the Ministry of Lands, Housing
and Urban Development that they had issued 456 land titles for Karamoja land.
According to Dennis Obbo, the Ministry’s spokesperson, 365 of the land titles
were on freehold while 91 were leases. He notes that the land titles had been
issued after all procedures were followed by the applicants including consent
and signatures from neighbours.
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However, in the land awareness meeting in Moroto, several people argued that
the land titles could be forged and fraudulently acquired through ignorance of
the community.
Samuel Logwee, a resident of Moroto says most of the land surveys are conducted
in the night with a few middlemen.
Citing Rupa land wrangle where a businessman claimed over 400
acres of land with land title, Logwee noted that authenticity of the land
titles is only valid with acknowledgement from neighbours.
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Sarah Akello, an artisan miner in Kosiroi, Tororo Cement base for Limestone
says the land is surveyed at night under the watch of security guards. She
notes that a number of the people fear confronting the surveyors and their
bosses but only wake up to find mark stones planted.
Akello revealed that night surveys caused Kosiroi residents their
land when Tororo Cement declined to pay for surface rights on grounds that they
had acquired a land title for the place.
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Sylvia Rose Marwas, the District Chairperson Land Board in Kaabong says she is
shocked to see land titles in her district when she has never recommended
anyone for it. Akello wants the titles revisited with the community involved.
Moroto Resident District Commissioner, RDC Peter Ken Lochap acknowledges
that some people, especially the illiterate community, are cheated with local
brew, meat or little money in the name of allowances to sign land sale
agreements.
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For the land title to be granted, the applicant submits his/her request to the
land board, survey on the said land is conducted and the applicant returns with
the report to the board that will later submit the required documents and
details of land to the ministry to access the land title.
Karamoja is hosting this year’s Land Awareness Week under the theme “Our Land,
Our Future; Securing Land Rights for Socio-Economic Development”.
