Deputy RDC Lutwama Leads Drive as 518 Alebtong Families Await Free Land Titles

A total of 518 families in Alebtong District are set to receive free customary land titles under a government programme aimed at strengthening land ownership, reducing land-related conflicts and promoting socio-economic transformation.

The initiative has been spearheaded by Alebtong Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Mathias Lutwama, working closely with district land officials and development partners, Cordaid and ZOA, through a three-month sensitisation campaign across the district.

According to Lutwama, the programme supports the government’s broader agenda of transforming communities from subsistence livelihoods into a modern and prosperous society by securing land rights for citizens.

He said formalising customary land ownership will help curb persistent clan disputes that have for years triggered conflicts and, in some cases, loss of life among community members.

The programme is also expected to protect residents from land grabbers by providing legally recognised ownership documents and to stimulate agricultural productivity by encouraging landowners to invest confidently in their land.

The sensitisation exercise has so far been conducted in Angetta, Adwir, Apala and Aloi sub-counties, where residents have been guided on the procedures for acquiring customary land titles at no cost.

District officials said the process begins with interested families obtaining and submitting application forms through their respective sub-counties. Area Land Committees then inspect the land and prepare verification reports in the presence of local residents and stakeholders.

The reports are subsequently reviewed by Sub-county Physical Planning Committees before being forwarded to the District Land Board for scrutiny and approval. Verified applications are then submitted to the Ministry of Lands Zonal Office in Lango for processing and issuance of the titles.

Lutwama revealed that all 518 verified beneficiary families are expected to start receiving their customary land title certificates on July 4, 2026, during a public ceremony in the district.

He noted that beneficiaries will not be required to pay any fees, as the entire process is being funded by the Government of Uganda in partnership with Cordaid and ZOA.

District leaders have urged residents to embrace the programme, describing secure land ownership as a critical step towards preventing disputes, safeguarding family property and accelerating local economic development.