KAMPALA.
Lands, Housing, and Urban Development Minister, Judith Nabakooba has commended Partners for Community Transformation (PaCT) for their significant contribution towards strengthening land tenure security and empowering lives in Uganda.
She made the remarks during the commemoration of 30 years of PaCT in impacting lives of local communities especially in greater Mubende and some parts of Bunyoro on July 25. PaCT is an international development organisation operating in nearly 40 countries.
“In Uganda, many people have bibanja but they lack documents showing ownership and boundaries. They just say this is where we were born or it was given to us by our parents,” Ms Nabakooba said, acknowledging that since its inception, over 30,000 plots of land have been mapped and free Certificates of Occupancy issued to owners.
This exercise is pioneered by PaCT in collaboration with partners such as German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), with support from the European Union.
She disclosed that the greater Mubende sub region has taken a lion’s share from this program, with mapping of bibanja in eight sub counties in Mityana, Gomba, and Mubende. Other beneficiaries are in Kassanda and Kiboga.
“The Certificates of Occupancy are one of the major solutions to solving land conflicts between tenants and landlords,” she added, noting that they can as well be used as collateral to access credit in financial institutions.
She noted that transforming communities and empowering them to live better is in line with our socio-economic transformation.
Greater Muende sub region is one of the areas that are still grappling with several challenges including limited access to clean water, and inadequate education and health infrastructure.
The minister appreciated the returns of PaCT’s initiative, highlighting that at least six maternity wards have been constructed in the sub region, three of which are located in Mityana District in Mityana Municipality, Kalangaalo and Kikandwa Sub counties.
“They have equally supported the government initiative of easing access to clean water. At least over 300 water points have been constructed, 100 of which are in Mityana District and support over 500 children through education sponsorship programs and constructed toilet facilities in more than 30 schools along with essential school infrastructures including classroom blocks.”
Mr Geoffrey Ssemakula, the Executive Director of Pact revealed that they first identified areas with critical issues arising from insecurities on land thus focusing on greater Mubende first, before rolling out to the rest of country,
In Gomba District, he noted, they have improved the relationship between the landlords and tenants, with at least 400 certificates of occupancy being given out to locals, and these have since changed people’s lives.
He launched the 30th signature project of construction of a new classroom block at Sserunyonyi Primary School in Kalangaalo Sub County.
“We are working to ensure at least in two years, we have changed the lives of vulnerable children who are still grappling with a shortage of classrooms. We found that some children are studying under the trees and others share classrooms,” he said.
Hope Grania Nakazibwe, Woman MP Mubende, applauded this organisation for extending clean water to local communities in his area.
She disclosed that Mubende is one of the districts which had low water coverage especially in areas like Kiyuni and Kibalinga Sub Counties but currently over 50 boreholes have been drilled in those areas.
Geofrey Kinaalwa Ssemakula, the Executive Director for PaCT, said they are currently operating in seven districts of Mityana, Mubende, Kiboga, Gomba, Kassanda, Kakumiro among others.
He said they chose Sserunyonyi Primary School because of its vulnerability, some children are still having classrooms under the trees, and others share classrooms.
“We are going to work with our stakeholders to facelift the school structures. In two years we expect it to be complete.