The Effect of Land Management Policy on Customary Land Practices in Amuru District: A Case Study of Amuru Sub-County.

Abstract

OCEN FRED BRIYAN (2009-M023-20011) The Effect of Land Management Policy on Customary Land Practices in Amuru District: A Case Study of Amuru Sub-County. In a country like Uganda whose backbone is agriculture, it requires a well-defined land management policies which promote private land rights and land tenure security to stimulate development and hence the wellbeing of landholders and the entire communities. The main aim of this study is to examine the effects of land management policy on customary land practices in Amuru district, with a case study of Amuru sub-county. The study sought to assess the effect of land management policies on customary land practices, with a specific focus on the nature of land management policies in Amuru, the nature of customary land practices in Amuru and the relationship between land management policies and customary land practices. Random sampling methods were used to collect data. A sample of eighty six (86) community members, government officials, and local council representative from the district land board, political leader, religious leader, and legal department were interviewed. The results from the data collected were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Both qualitative and quantitative data was analysed. The study further established the effect of land management policies on customary land practices in Amuru sub-county as; good customary land practices as a result of land institution, how cases of land disputes were handled, the nature of ownership‟s which is communal in nature rather than clan, family or individual, collaboration among statutory land agencies and the communities which is poor; relationship between land management and land policy as a key factor, right to hire land and allocation of land, community views about investment plan by the government in Amuru sub-county was also a key factor. The research was a success with conclusive findings and it offered a greater scope for further investigation on the challenges identified during the study and it recommended that there should be enhancement of land registration procedure, the land rights in the region should be secured to promote investment, need to ensure better collaboration with statutory agencies where the community of the Amuru sub county, to effectively collaborate with the State land agencies. Organisation for more educational campaigns on issues relating to land tenure is most needed especially to be conducted by professional experts. Lastly, land registration should be promoted to enhance land security. Key Words: Land Management Policy, Customary Land Practices, Amuru District.