By Hellen Aguyo
The communities of Losilang Ward in Kotido North Division are celebrating a major milestone after receiving a certificate of incorporation from the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development through their Community Land Association, with support from Justice and Peace Department of Kotido Catholic Diocese.
The issuance of the certificate comes at a time when investors continue to show interest in the Karamoja Sub-region due to the region’s vast mineral resources, which have pushed many communities to seek formal land documentation as proof of ownership.
Speaking during the handover ceremony today at Losilang Parish Hall, Diocesan Coordinator of Justice and Peace Department of Kotido Catholic Diocese, Nicola Carradori, popularly known as Nico, said the certificate acquisition process was made possible with support from the DKA-AUSTRIA Project.
He said that the certificate is expected to strengthen protection of communal land against land grabbers while also giving residents stronger bargaining power when negotiating with investors.
Angella Meron Koryang, DKA-AUSTRIA Project Officer, said the project supported the Community Land Association throughout the process of acquiring the certificate of incorporation, and would continue supporting them to secure customary land ownership.
“We supported the community to acquire the Community Land Association certificate, and the next step is to help them acquire a land title to further strengthen ownership and protection of the land,” Koryang said.
She observed that the three years project implemented in North division focuses on women’s land rights, peace building, and gender equality.
Faustino Loyo, the Chairperson of Losilang Land Association, applauded the community members for accepting the land to be documented.
This, he said, would help address outstanding land conflict between the people of Losilang and the neighboring communities since the land now has clear boundaries demarcated and approved by the Ministry of Lands.
“Disputes between residents of Losilanga have been have been in conflict with the people of Loyoro Sub-county in Kaabong district because of boundary disputes, but we believe this certificate will help settle the matter” Loyo revealed.
He said that 64 percent of the land in Karamoja is protected under wildlife, forestry and others, adding that the remaining part is being threatened by investors, some of whom he described as speculators.
Similarly, the Kotido Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Charles Ichogor, lauded Justice and Peace Department in conjunction with the Ministry of Lands for fulfilling his long dream of securing the land of the people of Kotido.
He noted that land tenure system in Karamoja Sub-region is complicated by the nomadic way of life.
Ichogor also called upon the government and other development partners to join the move by the Justice and Peace Department to secure communal land in order to reduce land conflicts in society.
