UGANDA, Mbarara | Real Muloodi News | In a bid to address escalating land disputes in the greater Ankole Sub-region, Land Minister, Judith Nabakooba, has issued a stern warning to zonal land officials in Mbarara, cautioning them against the issuance of multiple land titles.
The minister’s visit to Mbarara served as an opportunity to engage with the local community, where she emphasised the detrimental impact of multiple land titling and the resulting trust issues among the public.
During her meeting at Bukiiro Seed Secondary School in Bukiiro Town Council, Mbarara District on November 4, Minister Nabakooba identified that the practice of multiple land titling has created fear of eviction among the local population, causing them to lose faith in the government.
She cited a recent case where a special land title was issued for land that already held existing titles. Expressing her concern, she demanded the cancellation of this irregular title.
In this particular case, the disputed land once belonged to the late Veronica Munyashunju, encompassing four villages: Mirambi, Kakondo I, Kakondo II, and Nyakayojo.
Over 200 households, including the Bukiiro Seed Secondary School, currently reside on this land, all living in fear of potential eviction.
Minister Nabakooba uncovered that before her passing, Munyashunju had already distributed the land to the concerned residents, with freehold certificates of title issued, signifying that it was no longer under her control.
Unfortunately, Ms. Jeniffer Kamushoko, the administrator of the estate, was issued a special certificate of title for Plot 119, despite it already being subdivided and titles transferred to various individuals who currently occupy and utilise the land.
Minister Nabakooba stressed that extensive consultations had occurred between both parties during meetings on July 11 and August 1.
It was discovered that there had been erasures of Plots 65, 63, 106, 118, 108, 209, and 210 from the cadaster when creating the special certificate of title for Plot 119.
She directed the Mbarara lands registry to restore the deleted plots and declared the special title issued to Kamushoko as irregular.
To resolve this issue, the minister instructed the Mbarara zonal registrar to remove the caveat from the land and called upon the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) to collect the documents of those without titles.
The documents will then be presented to the Attorney General to determine the way forward.
Mbarara District Woman Member of Parliament, Margaret Rwebyambu, expressed her concerns about the prolonged court hearings in land matters.
She suggested that these delays might lead to opportunities for forgeries and emphasised the need for land titles for all residents to ensure full land ownership and put an end to eviction threats.
However, Didas Tabaaro, the district chairperson, attributed the conflicts over land to land officers issuing special titles without conducting thorough consultations on the ground.
He revealed that Mbarara District has a comprehensive plan to implement a special agreement across the district.
Under this arrangement, village chairpersons will be required to stamp the land titles before they can be sold, and these stamped titles will need approval from LC III chairpersons, helping to mitigate land disputes and secure the rights of the local population.
Minister Nabakooba’s firm stance and corrective measures are expected to contribute significantly to resolving land disputes and alleviating the fears of eviction among residents in Mbarara and other areas.
The commitment to addressing these issues is essential for ensuring fair and legal land ownership in the region.
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