Uganda Land Commission failed in its mandate - Isoke

PIC: ULC chairperson Baguma Isoke had previously appeared before the land inquiry team. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

LAND CONFLICT

KAMPALA - The chairperson of the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) has admitted before the commission of inquiry probing the land sector that ULC has failed to protect government land.

While responding to questions from commissioner George Bagonza, Baguma Isoke said ULC has not been able to deliver according to its mandate.

"In the condition we are now in, we are not helpful. We need a lot of assistance, our faults have been brought to the fore. They are glaring, we are wanting in inspection. Wwe are not delivering," Isoke said.

He was appearing before the land probe for the third time to answer questions regarding the sell of school land.

Isoke, a former lands minister, said ULC needs a lot of help in the area of policy regarding management of government land and the laws.

The ULC chairperson had been summoned by the commission to answer allegations of fraudulent giveaway of Nakasero Primary School and Kololo Senior Secondary School land.

Commissioner Mary Ochan Oduka wondered whether ULC can still be trusted to hold public land in trust.

"As Ugandans, do we feel secure that we have an entity called ULC that is actually looking after our interests, if children continue to lose land under the jurisdiction of ULC," Oduka said.

Commission team

Justice Bamugemereire is the commission chairperson. The commissioners are Fredrick Ruhindi, Mary Oduka Ochan Robert Ssebunya, Joyce Gunze Habaasa,Dr Rose Nakayi, and George Bagonza Tinkamanyire.

Ebert Byenkya is lead counsel, John Bosco Suuza is assistant lead counsel, while Judiciary Deputy Registrar of Planning and Development Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya, heads the secretariat.

Commission mandate

The commission's mandate is to probe efficiency of the laws, policies and processes of land registration, acquisition, administration and management.

It is also tasked with inquiring the effectiveness of the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) in administering public land and relevant bodies in the reservation of wetlands, forests, road reserves, and national parks, among other gazette spaces.