Bunyoro opposes paying off absentee landlords
Feb 25, 2008
THE prime minister of Bunyoro Kitara kingdom has disagreed with the area MPs on the policy through which the Government seeks to buy land from absentee landlords in Kibaale district and give it to the tenants.
By Pascal Kwesiga
THE prime minister of Bunyoro Kitara kingdom has disagreed with the area MPs on the policy through which the Government seeks to buy land from absentee landlords in Kibaale district and give it to the tenants.
According to the policy which was introduced in 1998, absentee landlords were to be compensated after giving their titles to the Uganda Land Commission.
However, Emmanuel Aliba Kiiza, said paying off the landlords was unfair because they owned the land illegally. He argued that they should pay the tenants (Banyoro) for denying them their land since the colonial era.
“Before the 1900 Buganda Agreement, this land was ours and it should be given back to us without the Government reimbursing them (Baganda). We have been squatters on our land for a long time. How can you tell us to kneel before the absentee landlords in order to get our land. I do not respect this land fund,†Aliba said.
The prime minister was speaking on Friday during a workshop organised by Jamii ya Kupatanisha, at Riviera Hotel in Hoima town. The charity seeks to promote peace and land conflict resolution in Uganda.
“I urge the Government to change this policy because compensating the landlords is like rewarding a thief and this will haunt us. The Government should heal the wounds inflicted on us by the colonial masters rather than worsening our problems,†Aliba added.
The Masindi Woman MP, Jalia Bintu Lukumu, said getting land titles from the absentee landlords would solve the land conflict in Bunyoro region. “Let us forget how these people got the titles and the Government compensates them so that we get our land.â€
She added that lack of access to information was partly responsible for the land conflict in Kibaale and Bunyoro region. Bintu urged the leaders to consult the locals on the Land Bill.
The MP for Bugahya county, James Kiiza Rwebembera, supported Bintu. “Let these people be paid and they shut up as we regain our land.†Rwebembera said.â€
THE prime minister of Bunyoro Kitara kingdom has disagreed with the area MPs on the policy through which the Government seeks to buy land from absentee landlords in Kibaale district and give it to the tenants.
According to the policy which was introduced in 1998, absentee landlords were to be compensated after giving their titles to the Uganda Land Commission.
However, Emmanuel Aliba Kiiza, said paying off the landlords was unfair because they owned the land illegally. He argued that they should pay the tenants (Banyoro) for denying them their land since the colonial era.
“Before the 1900 Buganda Agreement, this land was ours and it should be given back to us without the Government reimbursing them (Baganda). We have been squatters on our land for a long time. How can you tell us to kneel before the absentee landlords in order to get our land. I do not respect this land fund,†Aliba said.
The prime minister was speaking on Friday during a workshop organised by Jamii ya Kupatanisha, at Riviera Hotel in Hoima town. The charity seeks to promote peace and land conflict resolution in Uganda.
“I urge the Government to change this policy because compensating the landlords is like rewarding a thief and this will haunt us. The Government should heal the wounds inflicted on us by the colonial masters rather than worsening our problems,†Aliba added.
The Masindi Woman MP, Jalia Bintu Lukumu, said getting land titles from the absentee landlords would solve the land conflict in Bunyoro region. “Let us forget how these people got the titles and the Government compensates them so that we get our land.â€
She added that lack of access to information was partly responsible for the land conflict in Kibaale and Bunyoro region. Bintu urged the leaders to consult the locals on the Land Bill.
The MP for Bugahya county, James Kiiza Rwebembera, supported Bintu. “Let these people be paid and they shut up as we regain our land.†Rwebembera said.â€