The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Winfred Kiiza, has called for increased government investment in agriculture for transformation of the sector and Ugandan economy.
Kiiza was speaking during the ongoing Conference of US State Legislatures Kiiza said, government has always been committing less funds to agriculture. Despite surviving on agricultural sector, this financial year government allocated Shs89.2 billion and increment of Shs 2.7billion last from last year.
“Better funding to agriculture will spur improvements and growth in other sectors of the economy, which will in turn lead to less borrowing by government,” said Kiiza.
She called for value addition agricultural produce for exportation more so starting with east African community.
She said Uganda’s land ownership system and legislation guiding how government can acquire land from private individuals for investment, or public works, which according to the Constitution can only happen following compensation.
“Every individual is encouraged to have land in their name but there’s now a move by government to take over private land before compensation,” she said referring to the Land (Amendment) Bill before Parliament.
Hon. Okumu said Uganda has vast fertile land although much of it remains unutilised and that the country’s history involving conflicts led to challenges in the use of the land.
The delegation attending the Conference also includes: Hon. Kenneth Ongalo Obote, Hon. Herbert Kinobere, and the Mr. Pius Biribonwoha, the Director Department of Legal and Legislative Services.
Kiiza who led a delegation of MPs and staff of the Parliamentary Service to attend the Conference of US State Legislatures is being held at the Los Angeles Convention Centre, in Los Angeles, California 30 July – 2 Aug 2018.
The discussion also included MP Reagan, Amos Kimunya (Kenya), Curt Bramble (Utah State, US), Madoda Sambatha (North West Legislature, South Africa), Gade Fundile, and Chief Whip of Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature in South Africa.