Archbishop Ntagali welcomes land probe

Dec 25, 2016

The Church of Uganda archbishop condemns the rampant land grabbing and forgery of land titles.

KAMPALA - The Church of Uganda archbishop Stanley Ntagali (pictured), has welcomed a decision by President Yoweri Museveni to set up a commission of inquiry into the operations of the land sector.

"We thank the President for putting in place that commission [of inquiry]," Ntagali stated as he delivered the Christmas homily at All Saints Cathedral, in Kampala on Sunday.

The archbishop condemned the rampant land grabbing and forgery of land titles which has seen the poor lose their property to fraudsters at a stroke of a pen.

"Land grabbing is the order of the day here, and people are forging titles. Many have lost their customary land to people using technology to survey and steal land. Many have been evicted and few noticed," Ntagali added.

The president, on December 8, constituted a commission of inquiry into the effectiveness of the legal framework relating to land, policies and processes of land acquisition, administration, management and registration.

The land minister Betty Amongi unveiled the commission of inquiry during a press conference at Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on December 23.

The commission chaired by the Court of Appeal Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, who headed another six-month-long probe into alleged corruption at Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), and submitted its report in May, is expected to commence work next month.

The members of the commission include Robert Sebunya, a presidential advisor on Buganda affairs, Mary Oduka Ochan, Joyce Habasa, Dr. Rose Nakayi, a Makerere law don, Fred Ruhindi, the immediate former attorney general, and George Bagonza Tinkamanyire, the ex-Hoima district chairman.

Ebert Byenkya, a lawyer, who was part of a legal team that defended Museveni in an election petition in which, Amama Mbabazi, a former presidential candidate challenged his (Museveni) victory in the last election, will be the commission's lead counsel.  John Bosco Rujagaata Suuza will be the co-lead counsel. Olive Karazarwe and Douglas Singiza will serve as secretary and assistant (secretary) respectively.

It is expected to complete its preliminary report three months from the date of its first hearing, and put together a final one after six months.

By January 10, the minister said, it will be clear when the commission can commence its work after gazetting the instrument of appointment (of the commission) by the Attorney General.

Archbishop Ntagali alongside Rev. Canon Diana Nkesiga during the Christmas Day church service. (Credit: Juliet Kasirye)


Numerous complaints

The commission of inquiry comes at the time of escalating complaints of outright land grabbing and questionable (land) transactions.  At the heart of most of the disputed land transactions are the area land committees charged with approving and forwarding applications for registration and titling to the district land boards and land registry in the ministry. Under the current legal framework, the land registry relies on reports from area land committees and district land boards to create land titles.

The area land committees are expected to forward applications for land registration and titling to the district land boards after conducting hearings and obtaining signatures from the members of the community where the land being applied for is located, confirming that it (land) is free from encumbrances.

Some questionable titles have been created on the basis of fake reports from area land committees containing contested signatures allegedly from members of the community.

"People are shameless, and are even grabbing the church land. I told you Church land belongs to God," Ntagali stated.

Ntagali survives mob over land        

In August, the Anglican Church provincial assembly sitting at Uganda Christian University (UCU) passed a resolution to lease all its (Church) land to investors as one of the strategies to protect its property from encroachers.

The resolution followed the August 23 ugly incident during which people accused of having encroached on UCU's land attempted to attack Ntagali, 38 bishops and university officials as they inspected the contested property. Located in Mukono, the University belongs to the Church.

Here, the archbishop greets Christians after the Christmas service at All Saints Cathedral Nakasero. (Credit: Juliet Kasirye)


The clergy and University staff were rescued by the Police from the angry crowd that tried to set to fire a UCU bus in which the bishops travelled to the disputed land in Ntaawo village.

Reconciliation, love on Christmas

A way from land matters, Ntagali said God sent his son, Jesus Christ, whose birth is celebrated on December 25 annually world over, to reconcile with man. "By accepting Jesus Christ, we become adopted sons and daughters of God. That is gives us true identity," he added.

Despite God's offer of an olive branch to man, the archbishop noted that many have rejected the prince of peace (Jesus) and the light, choosing to follow ‘a dark path'.  

"People have become secular. They are selfish and greedy and that leads to corruption. Corruption comes from a selfish mind. That is why we see the evils of terrorism, war and killings in South Sudan, Somalia and DRC," Ntagali said.

The Anglican Church head condemned sexual immorality and called for dialogue to end a conflict that saw about 100 people killed during the recent clashes between security forces and suspected Rwenzururu kingdom royalists.

"Domestic violence is on the rise, and as we celebrate (Christmas) some wives and husbands are contemplating divorce. We need reconciliation because the prince of peace is a wonderful counsellor," Ntagali added.

The tribulations some people are grappling with notwithstanding, he said, it is worthwhile to give thanks to God for every little opportunity the Lord has provided.

"Uganda is a country of many opportunities despite land grabbing. Many people have died since last Christmas. Count your blessings, one by one, you will be shocked," Ntagali stated.

               

 

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