By URN
The government, through the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, is set to distribute an additional 10,000 land titles to residents in Kikuube district. The initiative, funded by the World Bank under the Systematic Land Adjudication and Certification (SLAAC) program, targets sub-counties including Kizirafumbi, Bugambe, Buhimba, Kyangwali, Kabwoya, and Kikuube Town Council.
These titles, to be provided at a subsidized cost of not more than 85,000 shillings, aim to combat the rising cases of land grabbing and evictions in the area. The new batch will increase the total number of land titles issued in Kikuube to 32,000, following the 22,000 titles distributed in August 2024.
Local leaders have urged the government to extend the program to cover more residents, warning that many people may miss out. Buhaguzi East MP Stephen Aseera Itaza confirmed that the government, responding to public demand, agreed to provide the additional 10,000 titles.
He encouraged residents to embrace the initiative, stressing its importance in addressing land disputes in the district.
Kikuube Woman MP Florence Natumanya highlighted the program’s potential to bring peace and stability by reducing land grabbing cases.
Locals have expressed gratitude for the government’s efforts. Bugambe resident Mbabazi Talemwa appreciated the initiative, emphasizing the need for more titles to cater to those unable to afford private processing.
Carolyne Nyamaizwe from Kyangwali sub-county described the project as a significant step in fighting land grabbers.
Vincent Alpha Opio, Kikuube LC5 Vice Chairperson, echoed these sentiments, noting that the initiative will mitigate land evictions and reduce tension among residents caused by speculators and tycoons invading the area.
The Bunyoro sub-region has faced rampant land grabbing and evictions, particularly since the discovery of oil and gas. The government hopes that providing land titles will secure residents’ land rights and promote peaceful coexistence.
The SLAAC program, implemented with the support of MESCIOGLU Engineering Company Ltd, aims to streamline land surveying and registration to safeguard the rights of vulnerable communities in Kikuube and beyond.
