The MP for Dokolo South Felix Okot Ogong has called for discarding of land amendment bill, saying it is not necessary.
MP Okot Ogong said that the people of Lango do not support the bill and that many people in other areas have not been paid since government acquired their land.
The now-contentious bill seeks to empower government acquire land for infrastructure development projects in lieu of payment should there emerge any disagreements with the land owners.
But the bill that was tabled by the Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana for amendment, has since come under serious criticism, with some Ugandans saying government wants to take their land to benefit a few.
“The current land act is enough,” Okot Ogong said and emphasized that government should compensate land owners before carrying out projects on their land.
Meanwhile, sources say that in a closed door caucus meeting of NRM MPs and the President at State House Entebbe on Wednesday, Okot Ogong caused a ruckus with stinging criticism of the government under President Museveni, with the former accusing the government of lack of planning
However, in the end the caucus formed an 8-man committee that will study the bill. The committee is chaired by the Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi, and has among other members the Attorney General William Byaruhanga, the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire and Lands Minister Betty Amongi.
