The National Land Commission has asked Parliament to help it get additional funding to speed up the full implementation of the digitization of public land records.
In a meeting with the National Assembly Committee on Lands, NLC chief executive officer Kabale Tache cited budgetary constraints as one of the roadblocks that the commission was facing towards the digitisation of public land records.
“We have plans to digitize 30 million land related records through the Ardhidsasa system. However, we need further funding to actualize this,” Tache said.
The CEO made the request when members of the committee led by North Mugirango MP and committee chairman Joash Nyamoko, inspected the NLC headquarters as part of budget oversight.
During the visit, the Parliamentary committee members met with NLC Commissioners Esther Murugi and Kazungu Kambi and the CEO.
Lawmakers reviewed NLC’s digital transformation strategy including a digital public land inventory database which is expected to enhance NLC’s ability to manage land resources, facilitate seamless data sharing and real-time data transfer among counties.
However, it was revealed that only three counties are currently connected to this system, indicating the need for accelerated implementation.
During the inspection tour, members of the committee inspected the NLC ICT infrastructure at the headquarters in Upperhill.
According to documents scrutinized by the committee, NLC is in the process of implementing a robust legal management system and digitizing over five million legal records that will streamline case management, and address historical land injustices.
“As the custodian of public land, how many public land records do you have? Do you have the physical records of public land?” asked Nyamoko.
Other members of the committee also raised critical questions about the NLC’s progress in extending digital management services to cover all 47 counties to protect public land.
Members of the committee underscored the need by the commission to adhere to the law in regards to land acquisition for projects, especially when funding is limited.
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