MUSEVENI LAND GRAB
When you read the article by Kiira Municipality MP, Hon. Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda in the Observer (See: When Muzee goes, people will understand we never had a govt”), you get a clear sense that it is bureaucratic lapses in planning and budgeting, that causes unnecessary delays and cost over runs in government projects. Not that citizens are refusing to give land.
These corrupt NRM cadres plan, budget, approve, and secure loans on government project way before gazetting and settling land negotiations with landowners. Why is Museveni not addressing these glaring internal flaws, tightening his government, and making it lean and efficient?
Whereas former Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda, Mr. Museveni is determined to expel indigenous Ugandans from Uganda, if not resisted. Already, this regime is selling back birthrights at a walloping US$400 to Ugandans who fled its earlier violence. These are signs that Ugandans are on track of losing their to their land and property rights.
The vested interest of Mr. Museveni in amending land acquisition laws is suspicious and calls for public scrutiny. Mr. Museveni’s own Party’s legislators have rejected the proposed amendment. Why is the President becoming so obsessed with usurping land from Ugandans?
This Museveni land usurpation scheme has shifted the boundary of trust and patience among Ugandans. Imagine that former regimes implemented every national development without grabbing land from citizens. Historically, the traditional land tenure systems have existed in various parts of the country and yet Dr. Obote built schools and hospitals, Amin built hotels, presidential lodges and Mpoma Satellite station without grabbing the land.
The contentions in the proposed Land Amendment Bill is the agenda to acquire lands deemed necessary for public interests forcefully, and then later consider a compensation value for its owners. Moreover, there is no guarantee for fairness and transparency in the land valuation processes.
Additionally, the compensation is based on what the government decides, and the evacuated victim of such land grabs cannot refuse or negotiate. If there were to refuse, government would dump the compensation package at a nearby courthouse.
By any measure of sense, this proposal is frivolous, dehumanizing, and heinous. Museveni wants to deprive Ugandans of their rights to land and property, and such should invite legitimate resistance nationwide.
Mr. Museveni should know that his regime is not trusted with its reputation of unrivalled corruption. Mr. Museveni;s own declaration that he is not anyone’s servant, and that he is pursuing his own ambitions has change public opinion of him, making this land amendment is rightfully suspect.
Mr. Museveni should attend to the current investigations of dubious land deals learn why the public has little faith in his proposal. If this land amendment is imposed on Ugandans, the reality of mass displacement, unjustifiable suffering, and dehumanization due to homelessness, famine, and conflict for subsistence space will overwhelm this country.
In developed capitalist societies where governments are the sole authority over land, the challenges of housing and homelessness are a hallmark. Any sensible Ugandan will never support this land amendment proposal. Let Museveni take the land by force like they have done in Amuru.
It is up to Ugandans to give up their rights to their land under these dubious schemes. Otherwise, Museveni should allow a legitimate land acquisition process, consistent with current laws and market rules to prevail. His priority should be ending corruption and inefficiencies within the planning and procurement divisions in government. The National Development Plan should reflect future government projects allowing a planning space of 20-30 years. Such a plan would allow preservation of lands for national development in advance. Where citizens are affected, the state should respect property rights, and apply social justice principles to compensate citizens at an agreed market price.
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