Museveni hands over 80 land titles to Buganda Kingdom

Government has returned over 80 land titles that were tumultuously taken from Buganda Kingdom.

While handing over the titles at State House Entebbe on Tuesday, President Yoweri Museveni stressed that that the titles have been returned so that the kingdom can use them for development.

"We decided to give the titles to the Buganda Kingdom Institution so that they may be used for development. I am concerned by reports that Buganda administration was demanding Shs100,000 as registration fees," Mr Museveni said.

Mr Museveni added that peasants cannot be subjected to the rental conditions and that this was his understanding with Kabaka Ronald Mutebi. He also stressed that if the rates are commercialized they would create problems.

Receiving the titles on behalf of Buganda, the kingdom premier Charles Peter Mayiga hailed the president who also made a contribution of shs 15m towards the Etoffali project.

Mr Mayiga also assured the president that the proposal on the land rates was not a commercial one but a voluntary arrangement. He revealed that it is not compulsory but a voluntary exercise for the people who are willing.

In April last year, the Government returned over 213 land Titles, comprising sub-county and county headquarters to the kingdom.

Other properties Buganda wants returned include markets, some landmark buildings, 9,000 square mile land and chiefs’ properties expropriated in 1966.