President halts Baruuli eviction
Dec 07, 2004
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has stopped the eviction of Baruuli squatters from Nakasongola district, saying they are protected by the Land Act.
By Mary Karugaba
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has stopped the eviction of Baruuli squatters from Nakasongola district, saying they are protected by the Land Act.
In a November 22 letter to lands, water and environment minister Col. Kahinda Otafiire, Museveni said Baganda absentee landlords were evicting peasants using their ignorance.
The letter was copied to the Vice-President, Gilbert Bukenya, Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi, the Attorney General and the Minister of Local Government, Tarsis Kabwegyere.
Museveni quoted the Land Act, saying a legal tenant could only leave his land on a seller-buyer basis.
“I am told the absentee landlords are Baganda, while the squatters are the original owners, the Baruuli. How then are tenants being evicted?†Museveni (left) asked.
He said if the landlords did not respect the ‘win-win’ solution, “we shall defend the oppressed and liberate them from this colonial nonsense.â€
Museveni attacked resident district commissioners for not defending the people.
Apparently, 3,000 of the 9,000sq miles demanded by Mengo and 497.42sq miles of Mailo land is in Buruuli, Museveni said.
“Check the facts quickly. I don’t want to hear that peasants are being evicted unless their claims are incompatible with the 2000 Land Act,†he said.
Otafiire was not available for comment.
Ends
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has stopped the eviction of Baruuli squatters from Nakasongola district, saying they are protected by the Land Act.
In a November 22 letter to lands, water and environment minister Col. Kahinda Otafiire, Museveni said Baganda absentee landlords were evicting peasants using their ignorance.
The letter was copied to the Vice-President, Gilbert Bukenya, Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi, the Attorney General and the Minister of Local Government, Tarsis Kabwegyere.
Museveni quoted the Land Act, saying a legal tenant could only leave his land on a seller-buyer basis.
“I am told the absentee landlords are Baganda, while the squatters are the original owners, the Baruuli. How then are tenants being evicted?†Museveni (left) asked.
He said if the landlords did not respect the ‘win-win’ solution, “we shall defend the oppressed and liberate them from this colonial nonsense.â€
Museveni attacked resident district commissioners for not defending the people.
Apparently, 3,000 of the 9,000sq miles demanded by Mengo and 497.42sq miles of Mailo land is in Buruuli, Museveni said.
“Check the facts quickly. I don’t want to hear that peasants are being evicted unless their claims are incompatible with the 2000 Land Act,†he said.
Otafiire was not available for comment.
Ends