MPs tell OPM officials to step aside over Bududa

Kampala. Members of Parliament on Presidential Affairs Committee have asked officials from the Office of the Prime Minster (OPM) linked to reported fraud in buying and selling of 1,800 acres of resettlement land in Bunambutye to step aside.
The MPs made the remarks on Thursday while visiting community members whose land was sold to the OPM without consent.
The fact-finding mission aimed at establishing the true owners of the land who were not paid and also prove whether the land is fit for human settlement.
The MPs, led by Ms Jesca Ababiku (NRM Adjumani), grilled and threatened to arrest an OPM official, Mr Emmanuel Oketcho, who the community accused of conniving with security officials to harass the people on the contested land.
Makindye East MP Ibrahim Kasozi said the OPM officials told Parliament that they bought the land yet the true owners of the land have not received any payment. “Unless you don’t have a human heart; you can’t resettle people in the wetland and lie to the world that the place is good for human settlement,” he lamented.
Mr Jackson Mbaju, the Busongora South MP, asked Parliament to investigate the matter. “I have observed that part of the land is swampy and the ministry knew, so how much did this swampy area cost and if the ministry paid what was it paying for,” Mr Mbaju asked.
He said officials involved in buying a wetland to resettle people of Bududa should be investigated and prosecuted over corruption and abuse of office.
Mr Mbaju said the Shs32 billion meant for the resettlement exercise should not be used until Parliament resolves the matter.
Ms Justine Khainza, the Bududa District Woman MP, said: “Government should look for better alternative land to resettle the people. Our worry is what will happen if it starts raining.”
The committee will present its report to Parliament next week.