Mengo warns Gov't on corrupt land officials

Buganda Kingdom's attorney general, David Mpanga has said that entrenched corruption is a major challenge to resolving land wrangles in the country.

He warned that if government doesn't get rid of corrupt officials in the ministry of lands, the proposed land amendments might turn out to be disastrous instead of reforming.

Mpanga was alluding to recent reports that government will soon table before Parliament an amendment to the Land Act (1998) which among others seeks to ease state takeover of private land for national development projects.

The amendment mooted by lands minister Betty Amongi that will offer government the right to take over land before negotiations for compensation, has been received with mixed reactions in the public.

Although the Land Act (1998) allows government to acquire land for public works after compensation, sympathizers of the amendment argue that the law delays government programs.

"What we need at the moment is how to resolve the conflict of an ever increasing population on inelastic resources like land and not taking it away more so in the face of very corrupt authorities," Mpanga said.

He also noted that because the proposal is very sensitive, government needs to move more honestly and with honest officials who preach what they do.

He said, "I highly doubt officials that have been notorious for non-payment of land owners and involved in enormous land grabbing will honour the commitment to pay landowners after taking possession of the property. Corrupt officials are to blame for delayed surveying and valuing of land for compensation. The actual victims in this case are landowners and not government programs."

Mpanga who expressed concern that if the corruption vice is not curtailed, the amendments may fuel land conflicts across the country, wondered if government will be willing to pay the actual value of land that has been possessed without compensation for a long time.

Last week, media reports indicated that following a presidential directive, the ministry of lands has implicated Sarah Kulata Basangwa, the commissioner for land registration and John Moses Magala, a senior government valuer for investigation over alleged corruption in the lands registry to defraud people of leases and land titles.

The deputy Katikkiro Apollo Makubuya said that citizens have a right to social and economic development which is largely steered by the right to own property so the amendment will infringe on the constitutional provision.

The 1995 constitution provides for ownership of property and prohibits compulsory depriving of one to property except in public interest but after prompt and fair compensation.

The remarks were made during a human rights and leadership training for Buganda Kingdom youth leaders over the weekend.

On human rights, Mpanga said that the youth have played a key role in violating human rights because they are ideologically disoriented.

"We have actually witnessed the youth participating in violation of human rights on account that they have been ordered by so and so but this must stop. The youth should change their ideology and start reasoning with the people accused of giving them orders because making the right decisions is always about us so, we ought to be our brothers keepers and not takers," Mpanga observed.

On his part, Makubya decried the failure by government to observe human rights even after being a signatory to international human right treaties and conventions.

He said, "Somehow people always try to justify violation of human rights and give examples of international incidents where similar acts have been committed but I think Uganda should not set its benchmarks on protection and promotion of human rights on any other country, we should all restrain each other and be tolerant because upholding human rights has a direct impact on development."

The Buganda Youth Council (BYC) chairperson, Paddy Kiganda said that since observing human rights is a pillar to good governance, the young leaders across the country should be equipped with necessary skills to promote, protect and observe human rights.