1,000 to decide on nationality
Mar 23, 2005
OVER 1,000 Ugandans who found themselves in Tanzania after the new border boundaries were drawn in 2003 have been given a chance to decide to either stay in Uganda or become Tanzanians.
By Ali Mambule
OVER 1,000 Ugandans who found themselves in Tanzania after the new border boundaries were drawn in 2003 have been given a chance to decide to either stay in Uganda or become Tanzanians.
The Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Water, Lands and environment, Bill Kabanda, said the government would not make a decision for the affected people.
He was on Friday speaking at a cross-border meeting at Kagera Sugar Estate in Tanzania.
In attendance were officials from the lands ministry, Rakai and Mbarara districts. Officials from Tanzania’s Karagwe and Bukoba districts and the lands and human settlement ministry attended.
“The Government will recognise Ugandans who were taken by Tanzania and Tanzanians who were relocated into Uganda after the drawing of the new border boundary until they declare their wishes to go back to their original countries,†Kabanda said.
The meeting resolved that no resettlement fee would be given to those changing from either side.
However, those whose property was found to be in the stretch of 20 metres across the two countries will be compensated.
Tanzania’s director of surveys and mapping Lazarus Mollel said, “We shall not accept any development in this stretch to enable security agencies to identify illegal movements on both sides.â€
OVER 1,000 Ugandans who found themselves in Tanzania after the new border boundaries were drawn in 2003 have been given a chance to decide to either stay in Uganda or become Tanzanians.
The Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Water, Lands and environment, Bill Kabanda, said the government would not make a decision for the affected people.
He was on Friday speaking at a cross-border meeting at Kagera Sugar Estate in Tanzania.
In attendance were officials from the lands ministry, Rakai and Mbarara districts. Officials from Tanzania’s Karagwe and Bukoba districts and the lands and human settlement ministry attended.
“The Government will recognise Ugandans who were taken by Tanzania and Tanzanians who were relocated into Uganda after the drawing of the new border boundary until they declare their wishes to go back to their original countries,†Kabanda said.
The meeting resolved that no resettlement fee would be given to those changing from either side.
However, those whose property was found to be in the stretch of 20 metres across the two countries will be compensated.
Tanzania’s director of surveys and mapping Lazarus Mollel said, “We shall not accept any development in this stretch to enable security agencies to identify illegal movements on both sides.â€