Katureebe, Bamugemereire in talks

Justice Catherine Bamugemereire (2nd right) speaks at Buwanga, Wakiso District, during the field visit on Wednesday. On her left is Mr Fredrick Ruhindi, a member of the commission PHOTO BY RACHEL MABALA

Kampala-The top leadership of the Judiciary and the commission investigating land matters have agreed to put aside their differences and work towards fighting land grabbing in the country.

The agreement was reached on Wednesday morning during a closed meeting at the High Court in Kampala, where a team led by Chief Justice Bart Katureebe met members of the Land Commission led by the chairperson, Justice Catherine Bamugemereire. The meeting was attended by the deputy Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo and Principal Judge Yorokamu Bamwine.

At the meeting Justice Bamugemereire said: “The meeting was a way of removing misgivings that have existed. We resolved to work together because we are working for government and the people of Uganda.”

She said her commission was an adhoc and intervention into land matters fighting for rights of the people.

Both teams agreed to always use dialogue.
In December last year, while addressing a magistrates conference at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala, Justice Katureebe attacked the Commission Chairperson for overstepping her mandate. Justice Katureebe claimed the chairperson wrote a dossier to President Museveni accusing and naming several judicial officers of issuing injunctions against cases before her commission.

although, Justice Bamugemereire has never made a formal response, sources close to her office deny she ever named anyone in particular. Justice Bamugemereire said there was ‘cartelisation’ between government officials and some members of the Judiciary to issue titles, no objection approvals and other documents that help in facilitating land grabbing.

During the press conference at her office, Justice Bamugemereire said; “We all live and work in this imperfect country called Uganda. The pre-colonial wars may be a problem, what we see is what is happening politically, socially and economically.”

Flanked by Commissioner Robert Sebunya and Fred Ruhindi, Justice Bamugemereire said their meeting was cordial, adding that the Judiciary was an important component of commission work in creating a harmonious relationship in the