Kibaale residents speak out on corruption and land title delays

Residents in Kibaale district have raised concerns over the growing corruption tendencies and the delayed process of acquiring land titles. 

The above, they say, continue to affect communities and control over land in their areas.

The concerns were raised during the community sensitisation by the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) on the Systematic Land Demarcation (SLAD) in preparation for issuing over 2,000 land titles on 647 hectares of land, which covers approximately 1600 acres (2.5 square miles).

The land was bought by the government from Fred Kasozi to benefit communities living on it.

The land is located on block 241, plot 1 in Buyanga and covers Kasambya, Kineka A, Kikonge and Kidukuule villages, in Kibaale district

However, communities said that recently, a couple of communities were assessed for free land titles under the SLAD program, but the majority were not released to date.

Besides the delay in the process, the exercise was marred by corruption, with key government officials indulging in making most vulnerable communities unable to afford the process.

Mulumba John Ibrahim, a resident of Kibaale town council, revealed how the land title which they processed over six years back still remains unreleased to date.

Mulumba attributed the delay to failure by some vulnerable communities to pay bribes, stating that the processes were over, coupled with corruption from land officers.

“Some of us have been able to access land titles due to Kitukidogo (bribe) involving adjudication committees in the district,” he said.

Jenefa Mbabazi, from Kikonge A village, accused top government officials of a corruption tendency that leads to land grabbing.

Birungi Mathia, LC1 chairman of Kasambya, appreciated the government for the program; he said: “aims at giving lasting solutions to growing land issues in communities.”

Agustin Bugara, representing the chairperson of the Uganda Land Commission, Prof Mogi, warned against corruption tendencies among the officials, saying that such behaviours sabotage government programs.

Kasaija Vicent, LC2 chairperson, Kibaale, applauded the government for the program, saying that it will help in promoting stabilised livelihoods and a reduced land conflict-free environment for economic activities.

Kenneth Kabyanga, Kibaale town council chairperson, called on the commission to consider the physical plan of the town, noting that failure to adhere to the physical plan will lead to poor arrangement of the central business area.

Kasenge Tom John Fisher, commissioner from ULC, said that the program is aimed at promoting community livelihoods through agriculture by securing and ensuring communities live in a free land conflict environment.

According to him, communities who have been living as absentee landlords will fully become bona fide occupants on the land.

The sensitisation meeting was also aimed at telling communities the requirements for title processing, including a processing fee of between shs30,000 and shs40,000.

Kasenge said that after mobilisation, land survey will kick off with boundary opening and also plot division, and later titling will be done.

Responding to some issues, he said the commission remains committed to providing possible and long-lasting solutions to land issues in the region.

Stephen Byaruhanga, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Kibaale, confirmed the existence of corruption in the district, with key desk officials at the district land boards involved, a tendency which has left many individuals with no gains.

Byaruhanga asked the Uganda Land Commission to provide his office with the necessary information pertaining to the previous land title acquisition processes for easy follow-up.

John Byarugaba, land surveyor for Kibaale, said all the land challenges were solved with land titles given to those registered.

“We already have everything like a stone in place to kick off our duties,” he stated.

On the unprocessed titles, he said that on block 244, plot 20, 912 titles were produced in Karuguza, with all beneficiaries receiving them, while in Nyamarunda town council’s block 178, plot 1, 1,517 titles were processed, with a few remaining unissued.

“There are outstanding titles on block 244 on plot 19 in Buyaga, Karuguza, where about 200 titles remain unprocessed,” he revealed.