URBAN LAND REGISTRATION SYSTEM AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT: THECASE OF WALAITA SODO TOWN, SNNPR, ETHIOPA.

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.