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.
But recently, Cabinet approved the proposed land Amendment Bill 2007, which has since been discussed in the NRM parliamentary Caucus.
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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 of Gombolola Myanzi such as Kyakatebe, and make investigations to verify my claims. People have been evicted and camped like refugees and nothing has been done by the so called area MP!
President Museveni is being misinformed by the people he has employed! These mis informers are the ones making NRM becoming unpopular. The observations of Bishop Lwanga are valid given the fact that government operatives are the evictors not Buganda establishment. The president may have good intentions, but he is working with men of bad faith. Therefore, in a situation where parliament is inadequate, ineffective voice and almost absent, it is the duty of true citizens to speak up for their natural rights to won property. I mean, what do you expect from MPs who never consults any of their constituency? MPs majority of whom know nothing bout the land acts before and after independence? Mr.Museveni must be having a hard time working with such a people. He proposes anything, and without value thought, it is approved by parliament! I think this parliament can even approve a UPDF project to go to Mars next year June! In such situations, it is important that our president moves carefully and if possible, should have a small think tank of worthy persons to advise on crucial matters.
We should not be surprised to see land issue becoming a fault line to be exploited by the political forces in the country either to abolish the traditional institutions or to rally mass actions against government. This is so because, down in the village where the president hardly goes, a common man is being evicted by some rich person who has the RDC support. You cannot disguise all the time. Those who are evicted know the evictors.
I suggest that government should apply the law without favouring certain individuals. The land issue should be dealt with by involving all stake holders bearing in mind that all Ugandans have a right to own a piece of land. All people should be able to access a piece of land. This will be possible only if land ownership is made a priority to ensure that no one is allowed self aggrandisement of land at the expense of masses.
Since Uganda, though made up of many nations, is one country, we should further reflect on what entails nation-building. The cost that every community in Uganda must pay to be part of Uganda is to give up such thing as nationalistic tendencies that exclude those we see as not part of us. This means a Muganda will have to live with a mutoro in this kind of arrangement. What used to be for a muganda and for a mutoro becomes a common wealth for both. We should seriously in all deliberations remember that we are a one country although not by choice and am afraid our current troubles are a result of our sad history. Colonialism kept all nations together by force and even at independence we were kept by force. In normal circumstances, there should have been a well thought consensus as to whether we wanted to be one country or not. This did not happen; our patriarchs were at most concerned with their daily bread; they did not look beyond their days. We therefore must painfully accept to give up certain cherished things for the good of nation-building. In doing so, let us not destroy what so far has been achieved but rather let us add a brick and teach those who will come after us to do the same. In this process, there will be intrigue and bad faith but men of good faith will do their best. Since we all have a duty to our country, let us be wise in electing men who can legislate competently.
Kayumba David Brussels
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 of Gombolola Myanzi such as Kyakatebe, and make investigations to verify my claims. People have been evicted and camped like refugees and nothing has been done by the so called area MP!
President Museveni is being misinformed by the people he has employed! These mis informers are the ones making NRM becoming unpopular. The observations of Bishop Lwanga are valid given the fact that government operatives are the evictors not Buganda establishment. The president may have good intentions, but he is working with men of bad faith. Therefore, in a situation where parliament is inadequate, ineffective voice and almost absent, it is the duty of true citizens to speak up for their natural rights to won property. I mean, what do you expect from MPs who never consults any of their constituency? MPs majority of whom know nothing bout the land acts before and after independence? Mr.Museveni must be having a hard time working with such a people. He proposes anything, and without value thought, it is approved by parliament! I think this parliament can even approve a UPDF project to go to Mars next year June! In such situations, it is important that our president moves carefully and if possible, should have a small think tank of worthy persons to advise on crucial matters.
We should not be surprised to see land issue becoming a fault line to be exploited by the political forces in the country either to abolish the traditional institutions or to rally mass actions against government. This is so because, down in the village where the president hardly goes, a common man is being evicted by some rich person who has the RDC support. You cannot disguise all the time. Those who are evicted know the evictors.
I suggest that government should apply the law without favouring certain individuals. The land issue should be dealt with by involving all stake holders bearing in mind that all Ugandans have a right to own a piece of land. All people should be able to access a piece of land. This will be possible only if land ownership is made a priority to ensure that no one is allowed self aggrandisement of land at the expense of masses.
Since Uganda, though made up of many nations, is one country, we should further reflect on what entails nation-building. The cost that every community in Uganda must pay to be part of Uganda is to give up such thing as nationalistic tendencies that exclude those we see as not part of us. This means a Muganda will have to live with a mutoro in this kind of arrangement. What used to be for a muganda and for a mutoro becomes a common wealth for both. We should seriously in all deliberations remember that we are a one country although not by choice and am afraid our current troubles are a result of our sad history. Colonialism kept all nations together by force and even at independence we were kept by force. In normal circumstances, there should have been a well thought consensus as to whether we wanted to be one country or not. This did not happen; our patriarchs were at most concerned with their daily bread; they did not look beyond their days. We therefore must painfully accept to give up certain cherished things for the good of nation-building. In doing so, let us not destroy what so far has been achieved but rather let us add a brick and teach those who will come after us to do the same. In this process, there will be intrigue and bad faith but men of good faith will do their best. Since we all have a duty to our country, let us be wise in electing men who can legislate competently.
Kayumba David,
Brussels
Lousy Day in the Burmese Kings 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 States, Australia Prime Minster including all my family members relatives and friends names constantly now and then. . I went shopping buying all the wrong things back home, deliberately, siding all of them too good hearted. Heard got big cases going on again. I hated them for shouting at me all day long using others people name heartache for them for the day again. Had a lousy day. I cried in my husbands arms today, knowing that he is not aware of this system. He thought that I was sick again like the rest of them. PS: Going shopping for Chinese New Year Stuff again, still wondering how the rest of the leaders and government is doing. Missing and heart aching for them specially my superidol S M Lee.
Best Regards, Jennie Ang Chen Ni ( Singaporean Ang Mo Kio)
Please Leak the News to World Media Very Important Kindly Support Us
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