 FORUM for Democratic Change President Rt. Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye has spoken out on pressing issues in Uganda politics. He discusses the murder of Uganda Freedom fighter Andrew Lutakome Kayiira and the land Bill controversy that has divided Ugandans.
Question:The government has tabled an amendment Bill to the 1998 Uganda land Law but your party just like the Mmengo Government and a section of others have attacked this move.
Answer:The government claims they are bringing this bill to protect the squatters. This is a total lie. Many tenants have been sent away by the powerful army generals and the well connected. The 1998 law was amended in 2004, it bars un lawful evictions. In Mubende District i shouted about this but the government has not taken step to help the peasants. Laws are there to protect but are not being used.
Question; What do you think is the government's motive in bringing this bill?
Answer: They want to weaken the Mmengo establishment. The new land bill hints on the Mailo owners. This is deliberately done to antagonize the currently existing cordial relationship between land lords and the bibanja holders that was well stipulated in the 1928 Nvujo -Busuulu law. Some government officials are behind these evictions but they are fooling the public that they intend to help those loosing land.
Question: Elaborate more on weakening the Mmengo government.
Answer:A lot of development takes place on land. This new proposed law leads to a paralysis in land use. Tenants will not enjoy their land as it has been the case while the landlords will also be at a loss. Already Bankers have threatened to boycott the use of land titles as securities. This law vests all the powers in the minister responsible for lands. He will now be the Ssabataka yet the norm has been that it’s only the Kabaka to enjoy that title.
Question:In this spate of land conflicts, what does FDC suggest?
Answer: We need to put up a land policy agreeable to all regions in this country. To achieve this, we need to have wide regional consultations as it was with the 1995 constitution. This bill is not out of good faith. People need a chance to contribute on how they want their land managed. The constitution provided that there will be a land fund to compensate the landlords but this failed to take off unless in events where the President’s relatives and friends are the victims in conflict.
Question:What is the history of the land conflicts in Uganda?
Answer: The land problem is a result of colonial rule in Uganda, the way they apportioned it and how dictators accelerated it. But its time for us to tackle this problem we inherited. Let’s work as taxpayers to facilitate the land fund. The president is rolling all over the nation with his failed prosperity programmes of Entandikwa scheme, Bonnabaggaggawle and these days he has been trotting promising everyone a portion of 60 billion shillings. All this cannot work when the land issue is unsolved. Our party has has instituted a research commission on what an ideal land policy would be for Uganda and we shall very soon table this for discussion. This is anticipated to solve the problem of the 9000sq mailos the late former president Idd Amin abolished in 1975 that was later declared public land in the 90s. Different regions should be left to decide how to manage their land.
Question: But your have been mentioned for being part of the racket of land grabbers in Uganda.
Answer: Such talk is rubbish promoted by tribalists. The land i have in Buganda in Kyaddondo and Kiboga I bought it with my money after agreeing with the former owners. Some people in Buganda seem to think that non Baganda should not own land in Buganda. I have never grabbed any ones land. I have titles for all the land i own. I have declared this to the IGG.
Buganda is for us all. Many people have worked for this kingdom. Its dangerous to think that non Baganda should not own land here.
That debate of Besigye and other non Baganda owning land in Buganda will derail the debate on those who grab land. I have never grabbed any land.
Question;You were assistant minister of Internal Affairs when the Scotland Yard handed their findings in the Murder of Kayiira to that ministry .That report was never made public why?
Answer:Well, its true i was the assistant minister to Hon. Paul Kawanga Semogerere who was my boss. But you very well know that a junior minister can not receive such a crucial report when the boss is available. I never saw that report.
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