500 surveyors fake
Aug 02, 2009
CLOSE to 500 fake surveyors are operating in the country, the Institution of Surveyors of Uganda (ISU) has disclosed
CLOSE to 500 fake surveyors are operating in the country, the Institution of Surveyors of Uganda (ISU) has disclosed, reports Francis Kagolo.
The institution, which is the surveyors’ professional body, said quacks were behind the endless land disputes that have degenerated into bloodshed in some parts of the country.
“They survey people’s land illegally and forge titles. They are unscrupulous. A number of them did not even qualify in surveying. Others who got degrees have refused to adhere to professional standards and were, therefore, not registered,†Nathan Behangana, the ISU president, said.
Debating the issue during the institution’s 19th annual general assembly, ISU members said most quacks operated upcountry. The day-long meeting was held at Kati-Kati Restaurant at Lugogo in Kampala on Saturday.
A 2007 probe by the Inspector General of Government uncovered fraudulent land dealings, including the issuing of fake land titles, as well as falsifying and manipulating records in the lands registry.
“Quack surveyors are greatly involved in the false registration of land. They connive with rich men and some officials in the lands ministry to issue fake land titles. They should be fought head-on,†Behangana said in a separate interview.
John Musungu, the chairman of the Surveyors’ Registration Board (SRB), said a number of surveying graduates were practicing illegally, having shunned ISU.
Makerere and Kyambogo universities pass out about 100 surveyors each year. Out of those that have graduated since 1994, when Makerere introduced the course, only 90 are registered with the board, according to Musungu.
Musungu asserted that the board would collaborate with the Police and the ministry of lands to arrest illegal surveyors.
However, both ISU and the Surveyors’ Registration Board came under attack over the restrictive registration procedure that has denied many a chance to be certified.
According to the Surveyors Registration Act, registration is granted to fellows of the professional body, ISU. Applicants must hold a degree, diploma or certificate from a recognised university or school of surveying or photogrammery. Besides, a two-year internship under the supervision of a professional surveyor is required.
“You want us to first undergo a two-year internship. But the professionals, members of ISU, reject our applications for industrial training. Some of the graduates have given up on the profession. We are demoralised,†Cliff Kamuhenda, a fresh graduate, told the meeting.
Musungu, however, replied that, like in other professions, practical training was a must. “For any profession, one must get practical experience to be registered. We cannot compromise ethics for the sake of numbers.â€
He warned that surveyors who shun the Institute of Surveyors would never be registered as professionals.
“Professional associations guide the ethics, integrity and general performance of their members. If one refuses to join ISU, one should forget about being registered by the board,†Musungu said.
The institution, which is the surveyors’ professional body, said quacks were behind the endless land disputes that have degenerated into bloodshed in some parts of the country.
“They survey people’s land illegally and forge titles. They are unscrupulous. A number of them did not even qualify in surveying. Others who got degrees have refused to adhere to professional standards and were, therefore, not registered,†Nathan Behangana, the ISU president, said.
Debating the issue during the institution’s 19th annual general assembly, ISU members said most quacks operated upcountry. The day-long meeting was held at Kati-Kati Restaurant at Lugogo in Kampala on Saturday.
A 2007 probe by the Inspector General of Government uncovered fraudulent land dealings, including the issuing of fake land titles, as well as falsifying and manipulating records in the lands registry.
“Quack surveyors are greatly involved in the false registration of land. They connive with rich men and some officials in the lands ministry to issue fake land titles. They should be fought head-on,†Behangana said in a separate interview.
John Musungu, the chairman of the Surveyors’ Registration Board (SRB), said a number of surveying graduates were practicing illegally, having shunned ISU.
Makerere and Kyambogo universities pass out about 100 surveyors each year. Out of those that have graduated since 1994, when Makerere introduced the course, only 90 are registered with the board, according to Musungu.
Musungu asserted that the board would collaborate with the Police and the ministry of lands to arrest illegal surveyors.
However, both ISU and the Surveyors’ Registration Board came under attack over the restrictive registration procedure that has denied many a chance to be certified.
According to the Surveyors Registration Act, registration is granted to fellows of the professional body, ISU. Applicants must hold a degree, diploma or certificate from a recognised university or school of surveying or photogrammery. Besides, a two-year internship under the supervision of a professional surveyor is required.
“You want us to first undergo a two-year internship. But the professionals, members of ISU, reject our applications for industrial training. Some of the graduates have given up on the profession. We are demoralised,†Cliff Kamuhenda, a fresh graduate, told the meeting.
Musungu, however, replied that, like in other professions, practical training was a must. “For any profession, one must get practical experience to be registered. We cannot compromise ethics for the sake of numbers.â€
He warned that surveyors who shun the Institute of Surveyors would never be registered as professionals.
“Professional associations guide the ethics, integrity and general performance of their members. If one refuses to join ISU, one should forget about being registered by the board,†Musungu said.