WES Lands Ministry receives 80 copies of Land regulation publications from UNDP
State Minister says the state had been experiencing a shortage of copies of the Act, which hindered access to information and slowed the dissemination of land laws during recent workshops.
By Emmanuel Mandella
The Ministry of Housing, Land and Public Utilities in Western Equatoria State has received 80 copies of the Land Administration, Management and Regulation Act (2013), from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Access to Justice Program, funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The handover took place in Yambio on Wednesday, following a three-day workshop on land administration and management, which brought together traditional leaders, civil society, and government stakeholders to address pressing land rights challenges in the state.
Speaking to the City Review, Engineer Renzi James Tombura, Minister for Housing, Land and Public Utilities, welcomed the support, noting that the documents would play a key role in strengthening land governance in the state.
“We are blessed to have received these copies of the Land Administration and Management Act. They will help our ministry, traditional leaders, and stakeholders to properly manage land issues in Western Equatoria. We are very grateful to UNDP and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for their continuous support,” Hon. Tombura said.
According to the Minister, the state had been experiencing a shortage of copies of the Act, which hindered access to information and slowed the dissemination of land laws during recent workshops.
Ms. Victoria Taban, Legal Officer with the Access to Justice Program, emphasized the importance of equipping traditional authorities and local communities with legal knowledge to resolve land disputes fairly and transparently across the state.
“Access to land is a human right, and so is access to information. For people to abide by the law, they must first know what the law says. These copies will go a long way in helping communities understand and implement the Land Act,” she explained.
She further highlighted the role of NeCSOs, a civil society network in Western Equatoria, which previously conducted surveys on land challenges and used the workshop to engage traditional leaders on best practices in land management.
The training and handover are part of ongoing efforts by UNDP and partners to promote good governance, rule of law, and cohesive land administration in Western Equatoria, a region where disputes over land remain a significant source of tension.
Hon. Tombura called for continued partnership, saying the Ministry is committed to using the materials to strengthen land governance and deliver services to the people of Western Equatoria.
