Urban Land Use Management Practices And Challenges In Dupatown, Darimu Weroda, Illubabor Zone

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 Secondary data involved reviewing relevant published and unpublished reports, operation manuals and other relevant documents.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.