gamme@eagle.co.ug
-Contributes Shs15m Ttofaali
-Bunyoro titles being processed
President Yoweri Museveni has handed over 80 land titles to the Buganda Kingdom and said government decided to return the titles so that the Kingdom can use them for development. He however expressed his concern over reports that the Kingdom is charging Shs 100,000 as registration fees for people using the various pieces of land.
“We decided to give the titles to the Buganda Kingdom Institution so that they may be used for development. I am concerned by reports that Buganda administration was demanding Shs100,000 as
registration fees,” he said.
The land titles were received by the Katikiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga at a ceremony held at State House in Entebbe today.
The President said that the NRM Government resolved to maintain the 1928 Governor’s stand and decided to maintain the land rates as nominal and that the rent for land should be maintained as nominal and not commercial.
He said that the peasants cannot be subjected to the rental conditions and that this was his understanding with Kabaka Ronald Mutebi. He stressed that if the rates are commercialized they would create problems. He said that the NRM Government was not ready to proceed with an agreement that the peasants are not comfortable with.
President Museveni was pleased after being briefed by the Katikiro of Buganda that the arrangement was on a voluntary basis and that it is appropriate if a voluntary arrangement was put in place.
He warned that the culture of misusing cultural institutions for opportunistic purposes should stop.
“We are looking for a strong Uganda and a strong Africa. The NRM Government cannot go against the Kingdoms unless the Kingdoms go against Uganda,” he said. He warned that self-seekers should not be involved in politics.
President Museveni said that the land titles of the Kingdom of Bunyoro were being addressed and would be processed and handed over. He assured the people of Kyangwali that they would not be evicted. He noted that the Government has used it as a refugee camp.
He said that the Government was trying to establish whether the Rolls Royce car in the Uganda museum belonged to Kabaka Mutesa or the Uganda Government. He said that it would be attended to as soon as the facts are established.
The Katikiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga saluted President Museveni for returning the properties of Buganda and assured him that the proposal on the land rates was not a commercial one but a voluntary arrangement. He revealed that it is not compulsory but a voluntary exercise for the people who are willing.
He assured President Museveni that the intention is to ensure that the peoples’ pieces of land are secure and that those who are not ready or willing were free to remain as they are.
Katikiro Mayiga hailed the President for his contribution of ettoofali of USh 15 million.
The Chief Whip of NRM Ruth Nankabirwa revealed that they were moving well with the mobilization of the people of Buganda.
Prince David Wasajja of Buganda kingdom said that they were very happy with the implementation of the agreement it signed with the Uganda Government for the return of the property.
