By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
The National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) party, Secretary General Asuman Odaka has outrightly rejected a proposal for government to take over all land in Uganda.
A few days ago, a top government bureaucrat, Prof. Nyeko Pen-Mogi, acting chairperson of Uganda Land Commission proposed for amendment of some clauses of the constitution on land matters to allow government assume ownership of all land in Uganda.
According to Nyeko, the amendment will help government carry out development projects on land without delays caused by owners who exorbitantly demand for compensation. Pointing out a clan in Mpigi district which blocked road construction project after they demanded Shs500m for a sacred tree on a 0.083acres belonging to Lugave clan few years ago, the professor noted that land owners block government development Programs and suggested that land should belong to the state which would lease it out to those who can develop it.
But, SG Odaka said at a press conference at NEED headquarters in Rubaga Kampala on Monday that the proposal is not in good faith and will increase land-grabbing cases in the country.
“People who block serious government projects are not ordinary people, we know who they are. They are government officials. For instance, during the construction of Entebbe Express Highway, they went and acquired land titles in the wetlands and we’re hugely compensated,” said Odaka.
He said the constitution grants Ugandans the right to own property including land urging Ugandans not be hoodwinked in this state land ownership lucrative proposal.
