Museveni appoints commission to probe land sector

Lands minister Betty Amongi (left) and her deputies, Persis Namuganza and Dr. Chris Baryomunsi at a news conference. Photo by Meddie Musisi  

President Yoweri Museveni has appointed a commission of inquiry headed by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire to probe an array of issues pertaining to the land sector in Uganda.

Many pundits believe that the commission which has been long in coming is a precursor to a complete overhaul of the legal regime pertaining to land in Uganda.

The commission which, according to minister of lands, Betty Amongi, is set to begin its work early next year has been tasked to inquire into " the effectiveness of the land law and process of land acquisition, land administration, management and land registration."

Other members of the commission include: Makerere University law don, Dr. Rose Nakayi, former Attorney General,  Fred  Ruhindi, Robert Ssebunya - a presidential advisor on Buganda affairs, Joyce Habasa and George Bagonza.

The commission of inquiry will be assisted by four people - Olive Karazawe who will act as secretary, Dr. Douglas Singiza (Assistant secretary research), Ebert Byenkya as lead counsel and John Bosco Rujagaata as co-lead counsel.

"This commission of inquiry offers us a big opportunity to clean up this sector and make lasting changes to a sector which is the bedrock of any country's development," Amongi said at Uganda Media Center.

The Bamugemereire commission comes at a time of increased outcry over alleged fraud at the land registry which has seen all sorts of anomalies including issuance of multiple titles to a single piece of land.

In a February 2014 letter to the then minister of lands, Daudi Migereko, the Inspector General of Government, Justice Irene Mulyagonja mooted the idea of government instituting a commission of inquiry to handle issues of alleged fraud in the land sector.

To Mulyagonja, many recommendations by the inspectorate pertaining to fraudulent land transactions were being ignored by technocrats at the land ministry.