A methodology for retracing parcel boundaries established using fit for purpose land Administration techniques in Uganda.

Abstract

The Fit-for-Purpose Land Administration (FFP LA) concept offers a cost-effective, rapid, and adaptable alternative to traditional land administration, enabling developing countries to adjudicate, map, and register land rights comprehensively. However, retracing parcel boundaries, a crucial aspect of Land Administration, has not received adequate attention, leaving FFP LA vulnerable to unresolved land disputes and impeding its benefits. This research aims to develop a methodology for retracing boundaries established using three FFP LA techniques in Uganda: handheld Global Positioning System (GPS), satellite imagery embedded into a tablet, and an ortho-photo embedded into a tablet. The methodology involved direct field measurements of 15 randomly selected parcels using three Fit-for-Purpose Land Administration (FFP LA) techniques in Kisoro, Mityana, and Kabale districts. Consistency was assessed through repeated measurements on each parcel using the same technique as during initial registration, with discrepancies in location, area, and shape identified through GIS overlay. To evaluate the feasibility of using Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) for retracing boundaries, parcel boundary data was collected, and geodetic Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) was utilized. Results for the first objective showed average positional variations of 3.29m, 3.26m, and 2.68m for satellite imagery, handheld GPS, and ortho-photo methods, respectively, with parcel areas ranging from 0.01 to 0.04 acres for handheld GPS and ortho-photo, and 0.01 to 0.03 acres for satellite imagery. For the second objective, positional variations of 5.72m, 8.29m, and 9.44m were recorded for parcels retraced using handheld GPS, satellite imagery, and ortho-photo. The third objective demonstrated that using original data for retracing preserved parcel areas and shapes while point position deviations ranged from 0.55m to 6.88m. In conclusion, the study found that conventional surveying methods were not feasible for retracing boundaries due to significant positional deviations. It recommends using the same FFP LA techniques for retracing, alongside participatory community mapping, to ensure accurate boundary re-establishment. Further research on CADASTA, which integrates satellite imagery and a single-frequency receiver, is also advised.