FDC speaks out on proposed Land Amendment Bill

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), has urged Government to stop the Land Amendment Bill unless it re-arranges it.

FDC Deputy Spokesperson, Paul Mwiru, on Monday at the party headquarters asked Government to look for new ways how to compensate people before being evicted from land. ‘’It has come to our attention that Government, through Cabinet, has cleared a proposal for the amendment bill to the Land Act,1998,to allow forceful acquisition of land and compensate later especially for large infrastructural projects, but how will someone survive without compensation?’’Mwiru asked.

He said, “Article 26(2) of the 1995 Uganda Constitution stipulates that: `No person shall be deprived of property or any interest in right over property except when it is required for public use and is made under law after prompt fair payment and compensation’. The Government should carry out effective planning before it embarks on infrastructural development so as to raise enough money to compensate the affected people,’’ he added.

He said that Government should stop wasting expenditure in the National Budget in areas like; presidential donations and the cost of public administration in order to save money. ‘’Government has no record or history of paying its creditors on time given its foreign debt being at 63%, and 37%, the  local one, forceful seizure may delay compensation since such payment will not be taken a priority,’’ Mwiru added.

He argued that there must be efficiency in Government departments to enable prior planning before violating the people`s rights to property.

Mwiru also addressed the issue of the elders committees’ elections, urging that it is not about bringing back Dr. Kizza Besigye, but all senior members to advice the party on certain issues, and the national party elections expected in November.

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