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Uganda: Land Committee Not Political, Says Mengo
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The Monitor (Kampala)
25 December 2007
Posted to the web 25 December 2007
Al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa
Kampala
THE Buganda government in Mengo has dismissed President Yoweri Museveni's remarks that the land committee set up to sensitise Baganda about the controversial land amendments is partisan.
Mengo Information Minister Medard Lubega Ssegoona said the committee is still on track and in line with the terms of references as designed by Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II.
"The committee is still sticking to the terms of reference as given by the Kabaka. Unless the President hates the individuals on the committee, but it also comprises some of his own cadres," he said.
Recently, the Kabaka appointed a 14-member team to sensitise his subjects about the implications of the proposed amendments to the Land Act 1998. The Central Civic Education Committee (CCEC), as it is called, is chaired by Ms Betty Nambooze, the Democratic Party publicist.
Mr Lubega said the committee aims at sensitising people in the kingdom to guard their land from unscrupulous land grabbers.
"Our objective is to sensitise people in the kingdom to guard their land jealously and resist surrendering it to unscrupulous land grabbers. "We see this as the only way we can protect our land despite increasing attempts to grab it using sophisticated avenues," he said.
Other members on the committee include MPs Hussein Kyanjo (Makindye West), Ms Beti Kamya (Lubaga North), and Mr Erias Lukwago (Kampala Central), Hajj Abdul Nadduli, Mr David Tebusweke, Ms Harriet Nalule and Mr Moses Kasibante.
The land committee has so far traversed over four counties of the 18 that make up Buganda Kingdom and this Thursday, the team will be at Katabi Sub-country in Busiro County.
The minister was speaking on CBS FM station at the weekend. Mr Lubega, the host of the progamme Agaffa e Mengo, also refuted the President's complaints that some politicians were using Mengo to undermine the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Kabaka not biased
"The Kabaka doesn't belong to any political camp and he appoints individuals at Mengo without looking at their political leanings," he said, adding: "During the recent general elections, Mengo welcomed everyone - NRM, DP, and FDC. We even welcomed UPC. Everyone is welcome at Mengo, as long as he/she is willing to serve the Kabaka and his subjects."
He said: "Some of us have never served in any political party. It really hurts to be associated with a group you don't belong to." Sources in Mengo that preferred anonymity because they are not authorised to talk to the press told Daily Monitor recently that the decision to form the committee was reached after land legal experts interpreted the motive of the proposed land amendments to the Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, who later gave it a green light.
Last week, Mr Museveni wrote a confidential letter to the Kabaka expressing his concern over what he described as growing "intrigue, bad faith and seditious tendencies at Mengo."
The President accused certain groups at Mengo of claiming to be speaking for the Buganda Kingdom and using CBS radio to spread lies about the proposed amendments to the 1998 Land Act.
He repeatedly urged the Kabaka to restrain people, who claim to be speaking on behalf of Mengo, from using CBS radio to peddle lies about the amendments.
Mr Museveni said these people, who include Ms Betty Nambooze, are inciting Ugandans, particularly the Baganda, saying that the government has a sinister scheme to grab their land.
Negative response
The proposed amendments have already caused a storm across the country with several interest groups rejecting the government's moves to limit the constitutional powers of the Judiciary to adjudicate land disputes. Others are questioning the government's motives in pushing for the changes now.
The Buganda Lukiiko (parliament) earlier rejected the proposed amendments, describing it as a grand scheme to disenfranchise landlords under the guise of protecting peasants and other types of tenants.
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But recently, Cabinet approved the proposed land Amendment Bill 2007, which has since been discussed in the NRM parliamentary Caucus.
Land Issue in Uganda too big for our weak parliament to handle
The issue of land in our country is likely to continue as a fault line within the chain of political development of our country. Listening to both sides, Mengo establishment and Uganda government both have seemingly good cases. However, much as the government contents that it is out to protect the tenants; there are evidences that some government officials have supervised or even evicted tenants in some places in the name of investment. I challenge government to go to the villages... [Read Full Text]
Land Issue in Uganda too big for our weak parliament to handle
The issue of land in our country is likely to continue as a fault line within the chain of political development of our country. Listening to both sides, Mengo establishment and Uganda government both have seemingly good cases. However, much as the government contents that it is out to protect the tenants; there are evidences that some government officials have supervised or even evicted tenants in some places in the name of investment. I challenge government to go to the villages... [Read Full Text]
“Lousy” Day in the Burmese King’s Voice System again.
Today, Woke up with voices for the day again. The King System is still running for the day. Every day, “Big-Big Shots” names screamed through the system again. Everyday, China’ s Hu JinTao, SM Lee and Lee Hisen Loong being screamed through my ears again. Someone Voices out their disapproval towards them again. For the whole day, it was super lousy for me hearing them screaming their names. Now and then, hearing them saying U Than Win, Ne Win, Aung Sung Suu Kyi, Laura Bush, Bush and Prime Minister Of United... [Read Full Text]
I think it quite normal for someone or a community to defend thier identity, Buganda Kingdom is identical by owning land in the so called central region. If it (Central govt)especially Museveni is thinking of using silent strategies to to finish Buganda, it is just as sad as death.
Buganda and Ugandans stand up against this corrupt regime, defend your property, defend your identity. No one is going to do it for us, we need defend our pride. Ankole has cattle, Buganda has land, For God and my Country.
Thanks indeed
Robert M
Thank you Robert. We need more partriotic ugandans to bring about genuine change. So longer as our people are stil poor and manipulateable, land will go, and even soverignty. Museveni is not the problem; it is we ugandans.
Kayumba DAVID
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