Tempers flare as Land Bill debate starts
Nov 13, 2009
DEBATE on the controversial Land Amendment Bill, 2007, started in Parliament on Thursday, with the Speaker and MPs flexing legal muscle.
By Henry Mukasa and Catherine Bekunda
DEBATE on the controversial Land Amendment Bill, 2007, started in Parliament on Thursday, with the Speaker and MPs flexing legal muscle.
Speaker Edward Sekandi took a firm stance against attempts by opposition MPs to block the debate, citing procedural impediments.
A split between the infrastructure and the legal affairs committees, which were mandated to scrutinise the Bill, resurfaced with the lawmakers questioning the authenticity of the report.
The infrastructure committee, chaired by Abraham Byandala (NRM), wrote the report on the Bill, leading to protests from the legal committee members.
There was also another minority report, signed by MPs Michael Mabikke (DP), Amooti Otada (NRM), Peter Omolo (FDC), Elijah Okupa (FDC) Patrick Amuriat (FDC) and Moses Kabuusu (independent).
Sekandi at one time had an exchange with Erias Lukwago, when he (Lukwago) tried to raise a point. “You should not stand up when another person is speaking, Lukwago. Sit down. I know we are dealing with a sensitive legislation and some people are using the occasion to show they are agitated,†Sekandi remarked.
Visibly angry, Lukwago protested against the Speaker’s comments but was restrained by colleagues to ignore the matter. Minutes later, he walked out of the chambers.
Similar protests by Abdu Katuntu, Alice Alaso, John Kawanga, Isha Otto and Beatrice Anywar fell on deaf ears. Sekandi told legislators on the legal affairs committee, who complained that they were ignored, to regard themselves as ‘co-opted’ members, as per rules of procedure.
Lands and housing minister Omara Atubo moved the motion for the second reading of the Bill and was seconded by Ruth Nakabirwa (NRM), Michael Werikhe (NRM), Jeniffer Namuyangu and John Byabagambi.
Atubo restated the government position that the Bill was to ensure security of tenure and occupancy for bonafide and lawful occupants of land. He said under the new law, the minister of lands would be given powers to prompt district land boards to set nominal land rent.
Under the Bill, Atubo noted, tenants would only be evicted after a court order while landlords would give tenants first option before sale and vice-versa. The penalty for any person found guilty of attempting to evict tenants shall be imprisoned not exceeding seven years.
The minority report said the problem was not lack of legislation but corruption and failure to implement the existing laws.
Debate was pushed to Tuesday to give MPs time to internalise the report.
DEBATE on the controversial Land Amendment Bill, 2007, started in Parliament on Thursday, with the Speaker and MPs flexing legal muscle.
Speaker Edward Sekandi took a firm stance against attempts by opposition MPs to block the debate, citing procedural impediments.
A split between the infrastructure and the legal affairs committees, which were mandated to scrutinise the Bill, resurfaced with the lawmakers questioning the authenticity of the report.
The infrastructure committee, chaired by Abraham Byandala (NRM), wrote the report on the Bill, leading to protests from the legal committee members.
There was also another minority report, signed by MPs Michael Mabikke (DP), Amooti Otada (NRM), Peter Omolo (FDC), Elijah Okupa (FDC) Patrick Amuriat (FDC) and Moses Kabuusu (independent).
Sekandi at one time had an exchange with Erias Lukwago, when he (Lukwago) tried to raise a point. “You should not stand up when another person is speaking, Lukwago. Sit down. I know we are dealing with a sensitive legislation and some people are using the occasion to show they are agitated,†Sekandi remarked.
Visibly angry, Lukwago protested against the Speaker’s comments but was restrained by colleagues to ignore the matter. Minutes later, he walked out of the chambers.
Similar protests by Abdu Katuntu, Alice Alaso, John Kawanga, Isha Otto and Beatrice Anywar fell on deaf ears. Sekandi told legislators on the legal affairs committee, who complained that they were ignored, to regard themselves as ‘co-opted’ members, as per rules of procedure.
Lands and housing minister Omara Atubo moved the motion for the second reading of the Bill and was seconded by Ruth Nakabirwa (NRM), Michael Werikhe (NRM), Jeniffer Namuyangu and John Byabagambi.
Atubo restated the government position that the Bill was to ensure security of tenure and occupancy for bonafide and lawful occupants of land. He said under the new law, the minister of lands would be given powers to prompt district land boards to set nominal land rent.
Under the Bill, Atubo noted, tenants would only be evicted after a court order while landlords would give tenants first option before sale and vice-versa. The penalty for any person found guilty of attempting to evict tenants shall be imprisoned not exceeding seven years.
The minority report said the problem was not lack of legislation but corruption and failure to implement the existing laws.
Debate was pushed to Tuesday to give MPs time to internalise the report.