President Yoweri Museveni has extended the span of Commission of Inquiry into Land Matters for another six months following the expiry of their tenure on 9th November.
The committee headed by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire was appointed on December 8, 2016 and sworn in on February 17, to inquire into the Effectiveness of Law, Policies and Processes of land Acquisition, Land Administration, Land Management and Land Registration in Uganda.
It opened its public hearings on May 9 at the National Records Centre and Archives under the Ministry of Public Service.
According to the Amendment of Legal Notice No. 2 of 2017 dated November 5, President Museveni wrote: “…this Notice shall be deemed to have come into force on the 10th day of November 2017…The Commission shall execute its mandate under this Notice, within six months from the date of publication of this Notice”.
Justice Catherine Bamugemereire acknowledged the President’s directive, saying it is an endorsement of the work of the Commission by the appointing authority.
The Commission has over the past few months, conducted several public hearings in and outside Kampala as well as unearthing a number of wrongful land evictions and mismanagement. Field visits have been conducted in the areas of Wakiso, Nakaseke, Luwero, Mukono, Jinja, Hoima, Mubende, Masaka, Gulu and Mbarara, among others.
The other Commissioners are Owekitiibwa Robert Ssebunnya; Mrs. Mary Oduka Ochan; Mrs. Joyce Gunze Habaasa; Dr. Rose Nakayi; Mr. Fredrick Ruhindi and Mr. George Bagonza Tinkamanyire. The support team has: Ms. Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya (Commission Secretary), Dr. Douglas Singiza (Assistant SecretaryResearch), Mr. Ebert Byenkya (Lead Counsel) and Mr. John Bosco Rujagaata Suuza (Assistant Lead Counsel).
