Pader District to Register Customary Land with GIZ Support

Pader District Local Government, with support from the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) under its Responsible Land Policy in Uganda (RELAPU) program, has launched a customary land registration project, particularly in Lunyiri sub-county.

The initiative, which began in 2024, aims to help cooperative societies secure Certificates of Customary Land Ownership and address concerns of land grabbing by individuals and government authorities. According to reports from GIZ, they will be responsible for capacity building at district and sub-county levels, providing office and field equipment, and ensuring that the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development integrates land registration data into the Land Information System for certificate printing. 

The self-financing model requires landowners to bear the cost of registration, with the Pader District Executive Committee, led by Fearless Obwoya Oyat, setting fees at 120,000 shillings for land below 200 acres, 200,000 shillings for land between 201–500 acres, 300,000 shillings for land 501 acres and above, and 300,000 shillings for freehold land certification below 10 acres.  

Lunyiri Sub-County Chairperson Charles commended GIZ and the district government, noting that many stakeholders had been sensitized on the importance of land registration. He said GIZ had provided computers, books, and training materials to support the process and that the project will ensure that more communities benefit from secure land ownership.  

However, Dickson Ojok, the Angagura Sub-County Councilor, criticized the district for setting fees without consulting local communities, land boards, and cultural leaders. He warned that bypassing key stakeholders could lead to resistance and misunderstandings among the local population.  

Palwo Clan Chief Rwot John Peko Lugai welcomed GIZ’s intervention and called for more sensitization to prevent conflicts. He expressed support for the registration of customary land for certificates rather than converting it to freehold ownership, arguing that customary land should remain collectively owned. 

However, he acknowledged that land registration could help landowners access loans and mortgages for development purposes.  Pader District Land Officer Julius Nyeko praised GIZ’s efforts to register customary lands in Lunyiri sub-county by citing Section 66 (1) of the Land Act (Cap 227) as the legal basis for the registration. 

He explained that the process provides legal proof under the Evidence Act, which reduces land disputes, aids the government in planning processes, and protects environmental resources. 

Nyeko urged the district to seek GIZ’s expansion to other sub-counties, emphasizing that wider coverage would enhance land security and economic stability for rural communities.