The Monitor (Kampala)
Mercy Nalugo
1 November 2009
MPs on the Parliamentary Physical Infrastructure Committee on Thursday raised a storm over what they called President Museveni's "over interference" in matters of the controversial Land Amendment Bill 2007.
The legislators who handled the Bill asked the President to respect Parliamentary protocol and wait until Parliament approves it before he can make any further statements and directives on the Bill.
Kyamuswa MP, Mr Moses Kabuusu, raised the matter before the MPs when he asked why President Museveni interferes in the new legislation now before Parliament takes it to him for assent.
"I find it unparliamentary for President Museveni to intervene at each stage of the Bill before it is taken to him for assent. This is the first Bill where the President is sitting in your chair to give us directions on the pros and cons even before we are through with the Bill. This is unacceptable," Mr Kabuusu said.
He said the President has often met ruling NRM party MPs over the Bill and dictated his position.
Before the Bill becomes law, the President has to assent to it. Parliament after passing any Bill forwards it to the President for scrutiny. He can either accept it or throw it back to the MPs to make some changes.
Moyo East MP Santos Piri Eruaga wondered why the President was meeting Buganda MPs and the Kabaka and not any other cultural leader to get their views on some clauses. "Why is he not consulting with other traditional leaders on the clauses concerning customary land?
He said as Katikamu North MP, Mr Ibrahim Byandala, who also chairs the committee reminded him that the cultural institutions have to first request to meet the President.
MP for Kumi County Patrick Amuriat Oboi wondered why the Bill has to date never been presented to Parliament.
It emerged on Tuesday that MPs subscribing to the ruling NRM party unanimously supported the passing of the Bill saying it would protect tenants who are illegally evicted by landlords.
However, members were of the view that the Lands' Minister's powers to determine the ground rent should be spruced and asked the government first to harmonise the relationship between bibanja holders and the landlords. The land amendment is expected to be submitted to Parliament for a second reading next week.
The land amendment is expected to be submitted to Parliament for a second reading next week.
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