Landlords seek to meet minister over land Bill
Dec 24, 2007
A GROUP of landlords have called on all stakeholders to discuss amendments to the 1998 Land Act in a calm and focused manner.
By Geresom Musamali
A GROUP of landlords have called on all stakeholders to discuss amendments to the 1998 Land Act in a calm and focused manner.
They are also seeking audience with the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Omara Atubo, to discuss the amendment Bill.
This emerged during their meeting at the National Theatre in Kampala on Friday.
The group formed an association and elected Eve Mulira as the chairperson of the steering committee.
Members are Richard Omalla, James Galabuzi Mukasa and Kampala lawyer Peter Mulira.
The amendments seek to among others, protect tenants against unfair evictions by their landlords.
According to the bill, the district land board has powers to determine the annual nominal ground rent payable by tenants.
But where the district board fails to determine the rates within six months after the commencement of the Act, the rent may be determined by the lands minister.
Bona fide occupants of land can only be evicted from for non-payment of ground rent and this must be done through a court order.
Similarly, a person claiming interest in customary land cannot be evicted except by court order.
The move comes in the wake of widespread land disputes and evictions. The bill has, however, drawn criticism from Buganda kingdom and opposition activists. “The landlords unanimously agreed that there are loopholes in the Bill,†Ms Mulira said.
A GROUP of landlords have called on all stakeholders to discuss amendments to the 1998 Land Act in a calm and focused manner.
They are also seeking audience with the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Omara Atubo, to discuss the amendment Bill.
This emerged during their meeting at the National Theatre in Kampala on Friday.
The group formed an association and elected Eve Mulira as the chairperson of the steering committee.
Members are Richard Omalla, James Galabuzi Mukasa and Kampala lawyer Peter Mulira.
The amendments seek to among others, protect tenants against unfair evictions by their landlords.
According to the bill, the district land board has powers to determine the annual nominal ground rent payable by tenants.
But where the district board fails to determine the rates within six months after the commencement of the Act, the rent may be determined by the lands minister.
Bona fide occupants of land can only be evicted from for non-payment of ground rent and this must be done through a court order.
Similarly, a person claiming interest in customary land cannot be evicted except by court order.
The move comes in the wake of widespread land disputes and evictions. The bill has, however, drawn criticism from Buganda kingdom and opposition activists. “The landlords unanimously agreed that there are loopholes in the Bill,†Ms Mulira said.