Land probe suspends work over lack of funds
The head of the commission of inquiry into land matters Justice Catherine Bamugemereire (left) and commissioner Joyce Habaasa (right) conduct a probe on Monday.
PHOTO BY STEPHEN WANDERA
KAMPALA- The commission of inquiry into land matters has suspended its operations because of lack of funds after only nine weeks of work on a Shs4.2b budget.
The commission that is chaired by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire yesterday said it will take ‘technical break’ starting next Monday until resources are found to enable them resume work.
“For the commission to run, we pay witnesses transport, we look after them and there is a lot of activity that is going on behind the scenes. We, therefore, cannot continue with the hearings when we cannot send out summons because it is costly to send out summons. We literally have to go to each and every village and personally serve each individual,” Justice Bamugemereire said.
She added that other costs they incur involve facilitating investigators with fuel and other resources when they are sent out to the parishes and districts.
“Ideally, if we had sufficient funds now, we would have officers in four different parts of the country investigating and picking up the first information before we get into the region, but we cannot do that,” Justice Bamugemereire said.
She said the lack of funds has forced them to reduce their activities and embark on desktop work, which does not require travel expenses and maintaining officers. But she was optimistic the funds would be available by the third week of July since the commission depends on ad hoc funds.
“Because of the need to explore various aspects of the terms of reference and to handle the witnesses so far lined up, the commission has found that it is necessary to work and this week, we have worked not just from 8am to 5pm but up to 9pm and we might work up to Saturday (this week) if we find it necessary,” Justice Bamugemereire said.
Addressing the media yesterday, Justice Bamugemereire said the commission would announce when to resume work.
“The public is welcome and should continue to bring to us the complaints during the technical break. Our offices will remain open with a skeleton staff because we have asked most of the staff to stay home because we will not be able to afford them for the rest of the month,” she said.
However, she said the complaints desk would remain operational.
“We shall also be encouraging individuals or ministry officials who have information to bring to us and they will be led to our technical staff to take the information,” she added.
When contacted, President Museveni’s press secretary, Mr Don Wanyama, said the commission has a budget and that money will be made available.
