Kikuube, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The government has contracted MESCIOGLU engineering company limited, a Turkish company to undertake land surveying and registration in Kikuube district.
The contractor will survey land in the various sub counties in the district where government intends to issue land titles to locals at a subsidized cost.
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban development is set to avail 20,000 land titles to Kikuube residents at a reduced cost to combat the escalating land grabbing cases in the district.
This will be funded by the World Bank and will benefit residents in the sub-counties of Kizirafumbi, Bugambe, Buhimba, Kyangwali, Kabwoya and Kikuube town. The titles will be availed to the local people at reduced cost not exceeding 85,000 shillings.
Eric Byenkya an Official from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban development says, the land titles will be given out under the Systematic Land Adjudication and Certification (SLAAC) being implemented by the Ministry of Lands.
Byenkya says, a team from the ministry of lands, housing and urban development is already in the district to sensitize leaders and residents on the issuance of the titles.
Joyce Habasa, the team Leader for MESCIOGLU says, they will survey land for people and also help them fill forms which will result into the acquisition of the land titles.
Amlan Tumusiime, the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner-RDC reveals that, his office has been registering many cases of land grabbing stating that, the initiative by the government to avail residents with land titles will help fight land grabbing in the district.
Flora Natumanya, the Kikuube district Woman Member of Parliament explains that, there are many titles that were fraudulently acquired in the district putting residents on eviction threats.
Edward Musingye, the Kikuube Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) has called on residents to embrace the initiative.
Peter Banura, the Kikuube LC5 Chairperson says, the initiative will help reduce on the escalating land grabbing and evictions by speculators and other tycoons who have invaded the district putting residents on tension.
Gerald Agaba, the LC1 Chairperson for Kyakatemba village in Kizirafumbi sub county says, the titles if availed will enable people to settle peacefully on their land. He is optimistic that the process of availing the titles will help combat the escalating land grabbing in the district.
Land grabbing and evictions in the Bunyoro sub region have become rampant ever since the discovery of the oil and gas with many speculators and grabbers invading the region.
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