Residents ask MPs to reject land amendments

Bukomansimbi.

Residents in Bukomansimbi District have tasked their area Members of Parliament to reject the land commission recommendation to abolish Mailo land.
Although President Museveni last week called for public calm on issues concerning land management, saying government will find a lasting solution, residents in the area are yet to settle for his pledge.
Led by the district chairperson, Mr Muhammad Kateregga, the residents have warned their MPs against approving the land proposals, arguing that they intend to deprive them of their land rights.
“We suspect the Land Amendment bill may bounce in Parliament considering the Justice Catherine Bamugemereire-led commission’s recent recommendations of abolishing Mailo land tenure system. Tampering with land ownership amounts to playing with our lives which we are not ready to accept,” Mr Kateregga said while addressing a public gathering at Kigangazzi Trading Centre in Bigasa Sub-county during Buganda Kingdom premier’s visit .
Mr Kateregga’s statements drew emotions among the audience, who asked the area legislators to pronounce themselves on the proposals.
While Ms Veronica Nanyondo Namaganda, the district Woman MP, convinced the gathering that she had earlier rejected the proposals, her counterpart from Bukomansmbi North, Ms Ruth Katushabe, got tough time with the electorates who doubted her commitment.
A charged section of the audience accused Ms Katushabe of misrepresenting their voices in Parliament, citing the recent amendment of the presidential age limit bill which she supported. “You are most likely going to betray us just like you did on the recent debate on age limit,” a chorus voices of were heard from the audience.
‘I have clearly heard voices from key stakeholders opposing this thing; I assure you that I cannot disobey these voices. This time round I am not bound by the collective responsibility of my NRM party,” Ms Katushabe said.
She challenged the Mengo establishment to summon all MPs from Buganda and mobilise them to front a common position on the land matter.
“Whatever happened in the past happened and it gave confidence that on matters of land, we shall take independent decision,” she added.