Land
issues have been a big concern in Uganda due to high increase of its demand.
Land being an important asset puts everyone on tension to find all means of
acquiring a piece of land. The live discussion was held on 30th/July/2017 on ToroDev’s supported weekly program
‘listeners forum’ that is aired every Sunday 8:00-10:00pm on Jubilee FM and the
panelists were Mrs. Hope Bagota Tuhairwe a lawyer from Uganda human rights
Fort-Portal regional office and
Johnstone Baguma Kumaraki executive director ToroDev. The
discussion focused on land policy, land rights” and the ongoing land issues in the parliament of Uganda
where there are proposed amendments on Land law that seeks to provide a compulsory
acquisition of land by government for development purposes.
“In 1998 the government of Uganda passed the
land act and amended it in 2010 but nothing big has been followed when it comes
to land acquisition, sale and wrangles that are going on in the whole country a
lot needs to be done with educating citizens on the land act”. Said Mrs. Hope
Bagota during the live radio discussion on Jubilee radio.
Hope added that land ownership is
categorized into four systems namely Freehold, Mailo, Customary and Leasehold;
these systems explain how land is owned and how it guarantees citizens on the
use. As a human rights defender I advice people with land issues to report to authorities
like sub county land committee so that the issues can be solved and reported to
the district land board.
“Uganda as a country need to think critically before amending the land
law, according to the Uganda constitution every citizen has a right to property
where land is one of them and everyone is free to access it. The government should amend the law to protect
people’s rights on land issues and duty bearer should orient, sensitize and educate people on land issues and the Land
act.” Said Johnstone Baguma
executive director ToroDev
Johnstone added that there are
issues on land which need to be scrutinized before any amendment of land bill
is passed in parliament and since land is a very sensitive matter, citizens
rights should be respected without causing misunderstandings. The constitution
is clear that the land owner should be fairly compensated in case government or
any other institution wants to use the land for development but what is
proposed here is government compulsory acquiring ones land and then compensate
later. There is need for the government to consult citizens on land issues
something that has not been fully done. This will help the smooth flow of
government projects and the national Land board should establish and maintain a
reliable and user friendly Land Information which can help in planning on
national development projects. Said Johnstone ED ToroDev.
During the two hours more than 40
listeners called in where the majority was men and these are some of the issues
they raised “The government and duty
bearers have failed to protect people and their properties, they should
consider people’s ideas towards amending the land law since they are affected
mostly most of the time”. Said Julius a caller from Bugaki Kyenjojo district.
“If everyone has a right to property why is it that the government and
national land board have failed to first hear the concerns of the citizens but consider
their own wishes, we request our members of parliament to work for people they represent
and defend them”. Said Mugarra a caller from Kabarole district. “Members of parliament should come on ground
and tell people more about land issues before the law is amended”. Said Kaahya
John from Kabarole district.
We take this opportunity to thank
SIDA, NED, SPIDER, and CIPESA for
the financial and technical support.
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