George Armah '08
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Message from Uganda
After more than 300 kilometers of driving from Uganda’s capital, Kampala, we have finally arrived at the Soroti District Land Office. I am glancing around the room as the senior land officer tells us about the problems his department faces in helping the townspeople lawfully register their land. There are no computers; just books, pens, pencils, and half open cabinets. The story has been no different for each district land office we have visited. The land officer mentions that each time a person wants to register, he has to make the trip to the capital (sometimes multiple times) to process the necessary documents.
In Uganda, like in most developing countries, land is the sole most valuable asset of majority of the people. Having one's land registered opens up new financial possibilities. For instance, a farmer cannot use his land as collateral for a bank loan without first getting it registered.
Uganda's current manual system has poorly kept records with some of the documents literally falling apart. Along with addressing the current problems facing land administration in the country, the fully functional Ugandan Land Information System will be able to link various sources of information – such as census data, transportation system maps, and environmental data – with particular geographic locations. This ability to relate complex data sets and display information in layers of simple mapped outputs will make it an important tool for Uganda's decision-makers.
I have heard views from Ugandans at a forum on land policy and spent time learning from system administrators at Kampala's land office. I now better understand the impact a land administration overhaul will have on the average Ugandan. I have sensed a strong willingness to see the project succeed. People here understand that formulating land policies, reviewing land laws, and computerizing land administration are just a means to an end that will see Uganda's citizens reap the full benefits from their land.
— George Armah
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George Armah researched the challenges in building a national Land Information System network in Uganda under the direction of Rexford Ahene, professor of economics and business and senior technical adviser for the Uganda Private Sector Competitiveness Project.
MAJORS
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
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