Introduction

Community Research and Development Services (CORDS), Mapambazuko Training Centre and the leadership of Mukulat Division have jointly initiated the Mukulat Land Rights and Empowerment Project popularly referred to as the MUKULAT LAND RIGHTS PROJECT. This project was established in order to enhance security of resource tenure for the Agro-pastoral communities in Mukulat Division, Arumeru District in Arusha Region. CORDS, Mapambazuko Training Centre and the Mukulat Division leadership under the funding from Development Cooperation of Ireland (DCI) jointly implement the Mukulat Land Rights Project.

The project commenced on January 2006.

Programme goals

The key goal of the programme is to enhance security of resource tenure and raise awareness on land rights to the agro-pastoral communities in Mukulat Division, Arumeru District through demarcation and registration of village lands and conducting Land Rights Trainings and workshops. The project aims at building up the capacity of village leaders and villagers within twenty four villages in Mukulat Division, to implement Village land Act No 5 of 1999 as well as training the four key organs of the village namely the village Assembly, the village council, the village land tribunal and the village land adjudication committee.

Programme objectives:

Overall objective: To reduce a number of potential disputes looming due to the improper administration of the land laws; and to empower village leaders/villagers by raising awareness on land rights and ensuring good governance in the villages of Mukulat Division.

Areas of Operation:

The programme operates in twenty four villages Seven Wards of Mukulat Division Arumeru District in Arusha region. The villages under operation are: Nengungu, Olchorovus, Likamba, Oloitushula, Oldonyowas, Lemong'o, Losinoni, Lengijave, Ilkurot, Olkokola, Lemanyata, Mateves, Ngorbob, Lemugur, Lesiraa, Ilkerin, Loovilukuny, Engorora, Ekenywa, Ilkiushin, Losikito, Imbibia, Engalaoni and Engurtoto.

Implemented Activities:

• Introduction of Mukulat Land Right Project to the stakeholders from the District level to the grass roots i.e. village leaders and villagers.

• Conducting community mobilization workshops for twenty four villages in Mukulat Division.

• Liaising with village leaders on formation of village land adjudication committees and hold boundary agreement meetings.

• Training the selected village land committees in the respective villages.

• Facilitating boundary agreement meetings.

• Demarcation of village land.

• Drawing of maps for the surveyed villages and computation of area.

• Preparing village boundary description certificates.

• Approval of village maps and signing of boundary description certificate and get them approved at District level.

• Sending village maps with signed boundary descriptions to the office of Director of survey and mapping for registration and approvals at the Ministry of Lands and Human Settlements-MLHS.

The programme has managed to successfully demarcate twenty villages through mapping, registration and certification of the same. The achievement is about 83%.

Programme future plans.

• Registration of village land certificates at Ministerial level by the registrar of tittles and at the District level by District Land officer.

• Handover of Village land certificates to respective village leaders.

• Conducting Land Rights workshops.

• Mobilization on preparation of village land registries.

• Developing land use planning strategies and implementation of the same in line with the National Strategic plan for implementation of land laws (SPILL).