'Bibanja' holders are still on tension over sudden evictions
Nov 16, 2010
EDITOR: The presidential candidate who will clearly articulate the issue of land tenure security will be the most popular. I have been waiting for a candidate who will transform my <i>kibanja</i> into a fully fledged freehold land. I have not heard anyone willing to correct this historical blunder.
EDITOR: The presidential candidate who will clearly articulate the issue of land tenure security will be the most popular. I have been waiting for a candidate who will transform my kibanja into a fully fledged freehold land. I have not heard anyone willing to correct this historical blunder.
To us who dwell on land without a recognised title by the Government, changes in governments will never mean anything when we are always on tension that we might be evicted any time.
The NRM has tried to make land laws but these laws have largely remained idle on the statute books because of the lukewarm treatment given to the bibanja holders. Ignorance of the laws is a big problem as the would- be beneficiaries do not know what is on offer.
People have not been taught how to make use of the laws to protect their interests. Some are ruefully lost in the arguments of the 1962 Constitution as the best safeguard for their land without knowing what that law offered to them.
If this Government wants to be remembered, the remedy is transforming all those who occupy land into title-holders. A case in point are the residents of Kabulengwa, Kyebando in Wakiso district. Their bibanja were purportedly leased out in 1978 by one Cephas Kikomeko without consulting them.
His lease holding had not expired when he was killed in 1982. Interestingly, a very prominent army officer has now assumed the lease holding and has always been threatening the bonafide bibanja holders! A case of forgery involving this mighty general was filed with the IGG in 2007 but up to now the inspectorate is procrastinating over the matter!
The soldier is treated like an innocent buyer who cannot locate the person who sold him a forged title which is now being treated as legitimate! All presidential candidates seem to fail the land test and our votes are not tapped.
Ahamed Kyendo
kyendoa@yahoo.com
To us who dwell on land without a recognised title by the Government, changes in governments will never mean anything when we are always on tension that we might be evicted any time.
The NRM has tried to make land laws but these laws have largely remained idle on the statute books because of the lukewarm treatment given to the bibanja holders. Ignorance of the laws is a big problem as the would- be beneficiaries do not know what is on offer.
People have not been taught how to make use of the laws to protect their interests. Some are ruefully lost in the arguments of the 1962 Constitution as the best safeguard for their land without knowing what that law offered to them.
If this Government wants to be remembered, the remedy is transforming all those who occupy land into title-holders. A case in point are the residents of Kabulengwa, Kyebando in Wakiso district. Their bibanja were purportedly leased out in 1978 by one Cephas Kikomeko without consulting them.
His lease holding had not expired when he was killed in 1982. Interestingly, a very prominent army officer has now assumed the lease holding and has always been threatening the bonafide bibanja holders! A case of forgery involving this mighty general was filed with the IGG in 2007 but up to now the inspectorate is procrastinating over the matter!
The soldier is treated like an innocent buyer who cannot locate the person who sold him a forged title which is now being treated as legitimate! All presidential candidates seem to fail the land test and our votes are not tapped.
Ahamed Kyendo
kyendoa@yahoo.com