Abstract:
Sustainability of urbanization requires planned development of urban centers, competent
institutional frameworks in place and proactive management and governance strategies. In
light of this, the paper examines the practice of urban land management practices and
challenges of land management in Dupa as emerging zonal town in the Illubabor, Oromia
Region .The data for the study were generated by household survey of 130 household heads
selected through systematic sampling, key informant interview with individuals actors in
planning, management, informal land transaction in the town. Secondary data involved
reviewing relevant published and unpublished reports, operation manuals and other relevant
documents. Data collected through survey questionnaire was entered in to SPSS for
statistical analysis, and data collected through interviews were analyzed using narrative
description method. This study found that the existing land management institutions in Dupa
town, Darimu district are characterized by a lack of adequate capacity and unstable
organizational structure. It also identified several challenges including, among others, Lack
of management system, technical and capacity challenges, Population pressure and
urbanization, corruption and attitudinal problem, political-legal challenge, social awareness
problem, infrastructural and financial challenge, socio-economic challenge, Poor tenure
rights, poor coordination among stakeholders and incomplete demarcation of the urban
boundary. The study recommends improving capacity of the land management institutions;
and clearly defining role, mandate, and coordination of offices involved in the land
management process.
