Mengo welcomes govt talks on land

Buganda Kingdom has welcomed President Museveni’s proposal for dialogue over the proposed abolition of mailo land.
The preliminary Justice Catherine Bamugemereire’s land probe report recommended the abolition of the land tenure system, a big asset to most Uganda monarchs.

Mr Noah Kiyimba, the kingdom’s information minister, yesterday said in an interview that they are ready and willing to submit their position to the Land Probe once consulted.
This comes a day after Mr Museveni warned monarchs against inciting the public but instead invited them for talks over the matter.

“We welcome the talks but on principal of our traditional customary Mailo land. We shall not deviate from this position for even one step,” Mr Kiyimba said.
“I know Buganda Land Board was invited to the land probe. Buganda Kingdom is also willing to meet Justice Catherine and her team to present our case. Buganda believes in dialogue but we were shocked by the report recommendation,” he added.

Addressing NRM legislators at a party to celebrate the successful amendment of Article 102(b) of the Constitution in Kiboga on Sunday, the President called for calm after highlights of the report were made public.

“There are some people who have gone on radios making alarming statements on land. Both landlords and squatters are all our supporters. They should go slow and consult us when time comes. I am available and my address is well known where they can find me,” he said.
The report has attracted sharp criticism, with Buganda prime minister Charles Peter Mayiga rejecting the recommendation.

NRM MPs hailed
Meanwhile, the President hailed the ruling party MPs for amending the Constitution. “It is the Opposition who provoked us by saying you cannot amend the Constitution. I hear now they have resorted to intimidation. You are the new historicals, the other historicals are the old ones. I congratulate the 317 MPs for entering the historic books,” he said.

A total of 317 NRM Members of Parliament last year supported a constitutional amendment for the lifting of presidential terms from five to seven years amid protests from the Opposition, religious leaders and civil society. However, Mr Museveni assured the country of peace after the constitutional amendment.
“Businessmen called me and told me they are now settled to invest. I was not aware that the investors were worried,” he added.

The President warned the Opposition against threatening violence.
“There is peace countrywide and no one can cause insecurity. Anyone who thinks is going to rebel against government should take a drug to go faster to hell (die),” he said.
“We are now going to install cameras in major towns in Uganda. When installed, the cameras will help us fight crime now in urban centres,” Mr Museveni said.

[email protected]