We have never sold any land title-Toro Kingdom

The Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Bernard Tungakwo has dismissed claims that some Kingdom land titles which were returned by government have since been sold.

In 2000, the central government returned a total of 17 land titles to Tooro Kingdom.

"All the land titles that were returned by government are here and in safe hands" Tungakwo told the New Vision today afternoon.

He explained that the Kingdom does not have plans of selling any piece of land because much of it is already being occupied by the King's subjects.

He however regrets that most of the tenants have continued to adamantly claim to pay ground rent.

"We don't intend to sell off any piece of land but the Kingdom's lands office will be leasing out land to interested individuals and investors" Tungakwo said.

The prime minister also disclosed that his office together with King Oyo is in final plans of signing a memorandum of understanding with the central government to return all the remaining kingdom assets.

Of the 17 land titles, only two are located in Bundibugyo district which is no longer part of the current Tooro kingdom.

"The two land titles in Bundibugyo district cover a total of 1999 hectares in Bwamba County. By law that land belongs to Tooro kingdom because we are the title holders" Patrick Rutabalengya the Kingdom's minister for lands said.

Rutabalengya added that for long, the kingdom has never collected ground rent from Bwamba County.

"We are in talks with government to compensate us for those two land titles. The current law does not does not admit to land evictions but again the people seating on this land are citizens of Uganda so government has to intervene" he explained.