Legislators form forum to fight land grabbing
KAMPALA – At least a hundred Members of Parliament have formed a forum to collectively fight the growing scourge of land grabbing in the country.
The forum, whose committee, chaired by Kiboga District Woman representative, Christine Nakimwero Kaaya, will take lead in reviewing the existing land laws and policies expeditiously so they can streamline all land information data and critical matters.
The members were motivated by the increasing cases of land theft all over the country and have pledged to work for proper land management and the safety of all land dwellers.
The MPs propose to establish a national information centre for all land records in the country to curb the rampant land wrangles as well as tracking all land matters in all constituencies.
“Our vision is looking at a prosperous society with secure tenure rights to land and our mission we are looking at increasing parliamentary participation in advocacy, service delivery, and material support related to land rights fulfillment in Uganda,” said Christine Kaaya.
Other members on the forum’s committee include Busujju County MP David Lukyamuzi Kalwanga, Hoima Oil City Woman MP Asinansi Nyakato, and Patrick Bingi Nyanzi from Butemba County.
The group says this would help track the many Ugandans suffering in courts of law due to financial constraints yet no one gives a hand.
“Land is a primary factor of production, all developments depend on it, we need to come out with solutions to these issues,” said Bingi.
Acayo Gloria from Food Rights Alliance who represented the civil society has tasked the newly formed land management forum to fast-track the policies regarding land management to help Ugandans overcome the challenges of land conflict.
Land grabbing is one of the major problems in rural Uganda, with growing pressures on land use due to the increasing population. Courts of law have several court cases of mass evictions pending hearing, yet communities continue dwelling on land without legal acknowledgment of rightful owners.
Religious and cultural institutions have always been entangled in several land wrangles, due to their vast chanks of land. There has also been growing tension between landlords and tenants, especially in Buganda due to gaps in the land laws that give either party pseudo supremacy over the land.
https://thecooperator.news/93-year-old-man-accuses-pastor-of-land-grabbing/
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