Cordaid Boosts Land Ownership Security for Kabarole Farmers

More than 2,000 farmers in Kabarole District are set to benefit from a project implemented by Cordaid Organisation, which aims to provide free registration of customary land ownership certificates. The certificates are intended to provide farmers with legal evidence of land ownership, in accordance with the 1995 Constitution of Uganda and the Land Act, Cap 227. This initiative seeks to strengthen food security by improving land tenure security.

The project recently issued 138 certificates to farmers in the first batch, during a handover exercise at Busoro Town Council headquarters. Lands Officer Kabarole, Peter Alinda, commended Cordaid for following the rightful legal procedures in securing customary land rights. He explained that the certificates provide security of tenure, can help farmers access loans and ease land administration.

The certificates do not expire as long as the prevailing land laws remain in force. One of the beneficiaries, David Bright from Mugusu A, commended Cordaid and local government leaders for extending land ownership security to ordinary citizens. He revealed that the certificate has given him confidence to invest in his land through piggery farming and expanding on his already existing coffee plantation.

The Busoro Town Council Mayor, John Mugisa a.k.a Owolusaniya, urged beneficiaries to safeguard the documents and make productive use of their land. He revealed that 138 certificates had been delivered in the first batch. The project is targeting more than 2,000 customary landowners across Busoro, Kicwamba, Ruteete and Hakibaale.

Martin Ojara, the A-GRIP Regional Lead Verifier for the Rwenzori Region, explained that Kabarole was selected because about 65 % of land in the district is under customary ownership, leaving many farmers hesitant to make long-term investments due to uncertainties surrounding land security. The Agriculture Governance Results Improvement Project seeks to strengthen food security by improving land tenure security.

Ojara commended district leaders and the donor for their cooperation in ensuring farmers secure their land rights and confidently invest in agriculture. The project aims to provide farmers with the necessary documentation to access loans and other financial services. This will enable them to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the local economy.

The initiative is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of farmers in Kabarole District, providing them with security of tenure and confidence to invest in their land. The project's success is attributed to the collaboration between Cordaid, local government leaders, and the donor.

Key points

• The project targets over 2,000 customary landowners across four sub-counties in Kabarole District.
• The certificates provide security of tenure and can help farmers access loans and ease land administration.
• The project aims to strengthen food security by improving land tenure security in the district.