'Silent Voices' in control!?

I think that most people who follow this blog know that Pro: Piggery faced some problems with the land-ownership issues of the land bought to build the piggery farm on.

The land title process is now in hands of ‘Silent Voices’ and we are moving SLOWLY!!

We have the forms and the filling out has started. We (Nathalie and Hilary – Project Volunteer) had a meeting with the District Surveyor who explained the whole process to ‘Silent Voices’. (see photo).

Let us give you an insight into this process (so you might understand that we still have to be very very patient!!):

· filling of the forms:

For the filling of the forms we need not only pen and paper, but also the signatories of the owners of the neighbouring lands, a visit from a 5 person Land Committee and their report and recommendation, and signatories of 5 independent witnesses!!

The committee needs a meeting date with a two week warning (and of course it’s ‘Silent Voices’ to pick them and bring them back, and to pay for the report to be compiled) etc… that were we are working on now…

· back up documents:

After filling the forms and collecting the signatories we shall attach all back up documents: Constitution (which we might have to change in order to show landownership more clearly), Registrations, Letters from Donors (yes… you!!) etc

· Pay the first fee:

We will be allowed to pay a fee at the sub-county headquarters…

· Submit file to District Land Board:

And here we discovered a very tricky point: Bushenyi District currently has NO land board!! The board expired in November 09, new names have been submitted to the Ministry but no approval has been received… and as such no swearing in has taken place at the District Level… so, currently all land title request are piling up at the land office!! (Apparently about 150 requests…).

· Approval or Rejection:

It’s up to the Land Board to approve or reject or to set terms of condition.

· Pay the second fee

By approval of the land board ‘Silent Voices’ will have to pay a fee set by the land board which apparently is a percentage of the land value…

· Submission to Land Title office in Entebbe:

Here ‘Silent Voices’ will leave the process in hands of the Land Surveyor… he will get paid to do all travels up and down to Entebbe and to get the final papers..

Time scale??

With a Land Board, and no obstacles or complications… two and half months…

So… please… wish us well!!

Nathalie

Patron of ‘Silent Voices’, and Project Coordinator Pro Pig from the Ugandan side