Kampala — THE Government's Prosperity-for-All programme (Bonna Bagaggawale) will only make impact when there is security of land tenure, the lands minister said yesterday.

Daniel Omara Atubo observed that Uganda could not achieve sustainable development if a handful of rich people buy square miles of land and displace people.

"If for example the rich minister Atubo buys five square miles of land, he can't make any meaningful development on it even if I put up a farm when I am displacing hundreds of people," he explained.

"I will only be causing more problems to the Government because such displacement leads to family breakups, unemployment, urban migration and a rise in crime."

Atubo and state minister Kasirivu Atwooki were sensitising 120 officers of the Police land protection unit on the Land (Amendment Bill) 2007.

The officers had ended two-week training at Naguru Police Station.

Kintu Nyago, a member of the presidential land taskforce who has been the facilitator, said President Yoweri Museveni directed the Police chief to establish the land protection unit to ensure that bibanja (plot) owners are protected from illegal evictions.

He added that the 120 Police officers will be sub-divided into 11 groups and posted throughout the country together to work with officers there.

Kintu lamented that 99% of Ugandans do not have land titles and the Bill was aimed at protecting such people without security of occupancy.

The officers were warned that their role was challenging.

"The people evicting others are rich. They are senior army and Police officers. What will you do when the person you salute is the one evicting? Please stop that illegal action," said Kasirivu.