Luwero, Wakiso bibanja owners want land fund

Bibanja owners in the Districts of Luwero, Wakiso and Nakaseke have accused Resident District Commissioners and other state agents of mismanaging land matters by siding with tycoons after being compromised.

In a petition issued on Saturday, they said they want the government to institute and adequately capitalize the fund land as a matter of priority and urgency in order to provide a lasting solution to the rampant land wrangles.

The petition which was addressed to the Minister of lands and copied to the state minister for Luwero was channeled through Uganda's Deputy Envoy to the UN, Ambassador Kintu Nyago who received it at Tick Hotel in Kampala.

Led by Michael Settimba, the Chairman of Wakiso Bibanja owners'association and Sylvester Kiguli from Nakaseke District, the bibanja owners pointed out that the land fund had helped to reduce land wrangles in Kibale and Isingiro.

They cited numerous cases where bibanja owners have been evicted from their land, arguing that interventions by RDCs and other state agents have instead resulted in more evictions because of being compromised by the land grabbers.

They also proposed that all foreign prospective investors be scrutinized; especially those who demand for big chunks of land, to check unnecessary evictions by bogus investors who end up failing to use the land.

They observed in their petition that the wealth creation program can only benefit bibanja owners if they have ownership security over their land.

"Let the hakuna mucezo go on, but the land fund should be operational zed, "the bibanja owners argued.

Ambassador Kintu Nyago said the proposals by the bibanja owners were genuine and said he would forward the proposals to the relevant offices so that action is taken.