Gen Otafiire skips Legal Committee of Parliament

Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Rtd Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire

What you need to know:

  • Government says the main objective of the bill is to resolve the current problem of delayed implementation of its infrastructure and investment projects due to disputes arising out of the compulsory land acquisition process.
  • The committee starts its work today and it has 45 days within which to report to parliament.

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Rtd Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire has skipped today's Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs sitting sitting on land amendment under unclear circumstances.
The Minister together with Betty Amongi of Lands, Housing and Urban Development were expected to defend their quest for Constitutional Amendment before the committee.
However, only Ms Amongi and the deputy Attorney General, Mwesigwa Rukutana showed up.
Government wants Parliament to amend Article 26 of the Constitution to create room for compulsory acquisition of land by both the central and local government.

The Bill currently before Parliament’s Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has so far attracted public rejection, with government taking to the defensive to calm public fears.
The bill seeks “to empower Government or a local Government to take possession of the property upon depositing the compensation awarded for the property with court, pending determination by the court of the disputed compensation amount; [and] to give the owner of property or person having any interest in or right over the property the right to access the deposited compensation awarded at any time during the dispute resolution process.”

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The Committee Chairperson Jacob Oboth-Oboth has since intimated to this reporter that the meeting will among others seek a detailed interface with the ministers before seeking public views

It also seeks to “empower Parliament to prescribe the time within which disputes arising from the process of compulsory land acquisition shall be determined,” during the dispute resolution process.
Government says the main objective of the bill is to resolve the current problem of delayed implementation of its infrastructure and investment projects due to disputes arising out of the compulsory land acquisition process.

The problem of delays, according to a government statement, has caused significant financial loss amounting to millions of dollars in penalties paid to contractors for redundant machinery at construction or project sites as the courts attempt to resolve the disputes, most of which relate to quantum of compensation.
The committee starts its work today and it has 45 days within which to report to parliament.