MPs defended on absence at land debate
Nov 21, 2009
THE Chairperson of the Buganda caucus, Rosemary Namayanja, defended Buganda MPs’ absence during the Thursday Parliamentary debate on the Land Bill arguing that the majority were in Arusha for the 10 years’ celebrations of the East African Community.
By Josephine Maseruka
THE Chairperson of the Buganda caucus, Rosemary Namayanja, defended Buganda MPs’ absence during the Thursday Parliamentary debate on the Land Bill arguing that the majority were in Arusha for the 10 years’ celebrations of the East African Community.
The celebrations are taking place today. She was optimistic that they would be in Parliament next week.
Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi also defended the absence of NRM MPs from Buganda saying they had reached an agreed position on the Bill and did not need to personally be there to present their views.
Meanwhile, Mengo information minister Medard Lubega said the Kabaka, Ronald Mutebi, has been disappointed with the manner MPs were handling the Bill.
The Kabaka is the biggest land lord in the country. The Bill wants to protect registered tenants against illegal evictions by landlords.
Lubega has warned that debating the Land Bill before a National Land Policy is in place could jeopardize the talks between President Yoweri Museveni and the Kabaka.
He also said the Kabaka is unhappy with Museveni’s support to the cultural leaders of the Baruli and the Banyala, Mwogeza Boatman and Baker Kimeze respectively, two minority tribes within Buganda.
The two leaders were present at a three-day Forum for Kings and Cultural Leaders in Masindi this week, which was addressed by Museveni.
The President at the meeting said the new bill on cultural leaders had already been approved by Cabinet. He said it includes a clause that not only bars kings and chiefs from engaging into politics but also prohibits politicians from riding on kingdoms.
The 13 traditional leaders in a memorandum pledged to distance themselves from politics. “We call upon the Government to put in place measures to stop the interference of politicians into the affairs of cultural institutions and also to stop cultural leaders meddling into partisan politics or being used as platforms for disgruntled politicians,†said the memorandum.
The kings and chiefs also asked to implement the regional tier, something Mengo opposes, and correct the past historical injustices. The Kabaka was the only cultural leader absent at the meeting.
THE Chairperson of the Buganda caucus, Rosemary Namayanja, defended Buganda MPs’ absence during the Thursday Parliamentary debate on the Land Bill arguing that the majority were in Arusha for the 10 years’ celebrations of the East African Community.
The celebrations are taking place today. She was optimistic that they would be in Parliament next week.
Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi also defended the absence of NRM MPs from Buganda saying they had reached an agreed position on the Bill and did not need to personally be there to present their views.
Meanwhile, Mengo information minister Medard Lubega said the Kabaka, Ronald Mutebi, has been disappointed with the manner MPs were handling the Bill.
The Kabaka is the biggest land lord in the country. The Bill wants to protect registered tenants against illegal evictions by landlords.
Lubega has warned that debating the Land Bill before a National Land Policy is in place could jeopardize the talks between President Yoweri Museveni and the Kabaka.
He also said the Kabaka is unhappy with Museveni’s support to the cultural leaders of the Baruli and the Banyala, Mwogeza Boatman and Baker Kimeze respectively, two minority tribes within Buganda.
The two leaders were present at a three-day Forum for Kings and Cultural Leaders in Masindi this week, which was addressed by Museveni.
The President at the meeting said the new bill on cultural leaders had already been approved by Cabinet. He said it includes a clause that not only bars kings and chiefs from engaging into politics but also prohibits politicians from riding on kingdoms.
The 13 traditional leaders in a memorandum pledged to distance themselves from politics. “We call upon the Government to put in place measures to stop the interference of politicians into the affairs of cultural institutions and also to stop cultural leaders meddling into partisan politics or being used as platforms for disgruntled politicians,†said the memorandum.
The kings and chiefs also asked to implement the regional tier, something Mengo opposes, and correct the past historical injustices. The Kabaka was the only cultural leader absent at the meeting.