KAMPALA, January 30, 2025 – Members of Parliament [MPs] have advised government against acquiring free land to establish Bunyoro University after the landowner demanded Shs 4.9 billion in compensation for his pine tree plantation.
The 100 acres of land in question are located in Buhimba, Hoima City, and were offered to government by Dr Henry Wamani, a resident of Hoima district. However, this offer was met with mixed reactions from the legislators on Parliament’s Committee on Education and Sports, who were meeting with the Bunyoro University Task Force Management Committee at the Parliamentary Building yesterday.
The Busia Municipality MP, Geoffrey Macho, described the cost of the trees as exorbitant and urged the government to seek land at a more reasonable price. “A university can be located anywhere in Bunyoro; we cannot pay more for trees than for the land itself,” Macho said.
The Entebbe Municipality MP, Michael Kakembo, added that although the land is supposedly free, the government would still end up paying a hefty price. “He [Wamani] tells us the land is free, but at the same time, he’s asking us to pay for his trees. The land is not free, and it is expensive,” Kakembo remarked.
Jacob Karubanga, the Chairperson of the Bunyoro Parliamentary Caucus and Kibanda South MP, explained that the offer includes 20 acres that can be accessed for immediate development. He further outlined that the remaining 80 acres could be made available under two conditions: if the university is willing to wait 15 years until the trees are harvested, the government would acquire the land at no cost; however, if the land is to be used before the 15-year period, the owner would need to be compensated Shs 4.9bln for the trees.
“Infrastructure development can take up to 15 years, and this land has a freehold tenure. It was rated the most suitable land by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development for hosting the university,” Karubanga said.
Napore West County MP, Philliphs Lokwang, expressed concerns about the possibility of Wamani violating the agreement after 15 years. He recalled a similar situation in Soroti district, where a well-meaning individual had offered land for the construction of a school, only to reclaim it years later.
Margaret Makhoha, Namayingo District Woman Representative, urged the task force to ensure the land is properly titled to guarantee government ownership. “Donated land without a title is contentious. We are willing to support the government’s investment, but ownership is crucial,” she said.
Committee Chairperson, James Kubeketerya, called on the task force to expedite the process of procuring land, stressing that the inclusion of the project in the 2025/2026 budget would depend on the availability of land.
“The committee has agreed that Bunyoro should receive funding, but the ministry says there is no land. Before we handle the Ministerial Policy Statements, we need to hear from you,” Kubeketerya said.
Grace Bantebya, a member of the task force, urged the committee to encourage the Ministry of Education to consider land purchase in the budget, noting that a decision would soon be made by the National Council for Higher Education [NCHE].
“The Ministry of Education asked NCHE to assess the land; the report is ready and will be presented soon. We cannot make any decision until we have that report,” Bantebya stated.
In 2021, President Yoweri Museveni directed the Ministry of Education to establish and operationalise a public university in the Bunyoro subregion.
https://thecooperator.news/lack-of-land-delays-establishment-of-bunyoro-university/
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