In a significant achievement for land rights advocacy in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, the Alliance for Land Rights Organization brought joy to 137 venerable individuals in Wau by providing them with long-awaited land ownership certificates.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, the Executive Director of the organization, Alfred Angok Uliny, highlighted the target beneficiaries, which included the elderly, those who lost their documents during prolonged conflicts, and individuals unable to navigate the complex process of obtaining land titles while facing the threat of land grabbers.
The distributed lands are located within various blocks in Wau municipality, namely New Site, Lokoloko, Khor-malang, Eastern Bank, Jumakayongo, and Bahr-Yar.
“Wau has faced numerous crises from 2013 until 2019, during which many of these beneficiaries lost their documents. As the Alliance for Land Rights, we intervened by identifying the genuinely vulnerable individuals and collaborated with the Ministry to facilitate the processing of their land documents, with generous support from the Norwegian People’s Aid,” explained Uliny.
Uliny emphasized that their organization has been actively assisting local communities in securing their land documents since 2019. He added, “This is not the first time we have undertaken the process of obtaining land documents for them. We initiated this effort back in 2019.”
Furthermore, Uliny noted that by providing these land documents, the beneficiaries can now access support from other UN partners, such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which offers programs for local housing construction in Wau.
Expressing their gratitude, several beneficiaries shared their happiness and appreciation for the Alliance for Land Rights for their instrumental role in obtaining their land documents.
Gabriel Malong Albino, a resident of New Site, expressed, “We are overjoyed to finally receive our land documents. We had been living without proper land titles, lacking the means and knowledge to navigate the ministry’s procedures. Thanks to the Alliance for Land Rights, we now have our documents.”
Similarly, Chief Omar Abdalla of the Lokoloko area expressed his satisfaction with the organization’s efforts. He said, “The organization visited our area to assist us in obtaining land documents, specifically focusing on the elderly and widows who faced difficulties in the process. We express our gratitude for this initiative.”
Chief Abdalla added, “This organization has consistently supported us, benefiting many people who lack the financial resources to navigate these complex procedures.”
Seada Sika, an elderly woman residing in Lokoloko, shared her experience, saying, “Since 2013, I have been unable to process my land documents due to my age. Our area chief informed me about the organization, which successfully handed over the documents today. As an elderly person, I was concerned that others might attempt to seize my land from my children. Today, I am elated.”
The Alliance for Land Rights Organization’s efforts have undoubtedly made a significant impact on vulnerable individuals in Wau, ensuring their rightful ownership and protection of their land.