Abstract:
The objective of this study was to assess urban land registration system and its contribution
to sustainable land management, and to identify challenges of implementing land
registration. In addition, the study was aimed at discussing the socio-economic impacts of
land registration system in the town. The study used multi -stage sampling technique to
maintain the representativeness of sample. Sample kebeles were selected by using Systematic
random sampling technique and 266 households were selected. To achieve the research
objectives, both primary and secondary data were collected from different sources. Primary
data sources include owner occupied households in selected kebeles, senior experts, and
officials in the municipality, revenue office, and courts. The Secondary data sources were
internet web sites, annual reports, regional regulation, directive, and other supportive
documents. The collected data were coded, edited, analyzed and interpreted. This study has
shown that the land registration system in Wolayita Sodo was not implemented properly. This
is mainly due to different factors. These include lack of Sound legal framework related to
land registration, low level of public awareness and participation, lack of skilled man power
to implement land registration and recording, inadequate material and financial capacity
and poor coordination and integration among different departments and sectors. Lack of
political commitment in allocating material and financial resources was also another
problem in implementing land registration in the town. Due to the above problems, the town
experienced low and decreasing revenue collection from land and proliferation of informal
land occupation and land speculation. The growing number of land disputes was another
impacts associated with poor land registration system and parcel boundary adjudication. To
mitigate the challenges of implementing land registration in Sodo town, enacting an
appropriate legislative framework, and strengthening of man power, material and financial
capacity should be important tasks. Public awareness creation on land registration and its
importance through mass media and public meeting should be given emphasis.
