Katikiro condemns police brutality

The Katikiro Peter Charles Mayiga has condemned the brutality of the Uganda Police Force (UPF) personnel, saying they need to be professional in their work.

"Beating up innocent people is unfair. This should stop. We ask police to do their work professionally and respect people's rights," he said.

His remarks follows the recent beating of the Forum for Democratic Change's (FDC) former Presidential flag bearer, Col. Kizza Besigye's supporters by police. He was speaking at the Buganda Lukiiko sitting at Bulange Mengo, in Kampala yesterday.

 "We expect police to enforce the law but not to break it. Really; you beat up people who are innocent. What does this show?" he asked. Mayiga also condemned the siege of the Makindye Chief Magistrate's Court by the alleged Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura's supporters. He said it was unfortunate and undermines the independence of the judiciary.

"We all saw these idle people trying to block the Magistrate from doing his work. These are idlers we all know.  These acts should stop and government needs to come out strongly and condemn such actions. The rule of law must be respected," he added.

The Katikiro also asked Parliament to block the new proposed land amendment bill, saying it is unfair to land owners. "We are going to reject this law. Taking some one's land without consent is an abuse of people's rights to own land which we shall not accept," he noted.

During a retreat at Kyenkwazi Leadership Institute, early this year, the Cabinet proposed to amend the Land Act (1998) to ease government acquisition of land for national development.

The Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Betty Amongi, explained that the current law delays government programmes because of the bureaucracies during compensation and negotiations.

According to the proposed law, government will be able to acquire and start development before full compensation to the owner to avoid delays.  Mayiga said government can buy land from people and compensate them and develop it to attract investors.

He further called on government to create a more favorable environment to attract investors into the country, saying it is not about land.

"How can you invest in a country where people's rights are abused anyhow? Can anyone go to invest in Sudan? Even genuine investors always buy their own land to invest. Those who want free land are sometimes not honest," he added.

Eng. Moses Lule, a representative from Washington DC, said Buganda needs to demarcate their border lines with other areas to avoid any conflicts in future.

Patrick Dumba a representative from Buvuma, said much of the land on Buvuma Island is being given out by government to investors for palm oil growing yet nothing has ever been done.The Lukiiko speaker, Nelson Kawalya said land is important to Buagnda and must be protected