By Joachim Twino
Having realized that lack of information regarding land rights is among the major causes of land wrangling, Buganda Land Board (BLB which is one of the largest land owners in Uganda) has moved to increase awareness to empower citizens.
Partnering with the Central government’s Ministry of lands and NGOs, BLB has pooled resources to conduct a full week land sensitization seminar in Wakiso district’s Kasanje town council (one of the areas where the Kabaka owns significant land) to sensitize land lords and tenants (Bibanja holders) about their respective rights and duties relating to land. The outreach program is part of the activities to mark Kabaka’s 26th coronation which will be hosted in Busiro County under which land wrangles-infested Kasanje falls.
At the Kasanje Town Council session today Wednesday, a good number of lawyers were assembled and spent the whole day there free of charge sensitizing residents and answering all their questions related to land. Much of the land in Kasanje is Kabaka’s and therefore under the BLB management. The rest is owned by private owners some of whom have been at loggerheads with Bibanja holders.
Kalibala Mwebe, one of the many facilitators BLB assembled, educated residents about their duty to pay their busulu as a way of showing allegiance to the land lord or else get lawfully inconvenienced for non-compliance since this is a legal requirement. Many of the residents, including LC officials, confessed they didn’t know the consequences of skipping three years without paying Busulu. Some complained of land lords who become cagey making it hard for them to pay Busulu which they then use as an excuse to throw them off the land.
The officials from BLB also warned residents to always access BLB offices or those of the central government at Wakiso district headquarters rather than depending on brokers who in most cases turn out to be Bafere. The area police leadership, led by Kasanje OC Alex Nuwagira, also had the opportunity to address the gathering to make themselves understood. This was necessary because, as Nuwagira explained, residents want police to entertain both trespass cases (which are criminal under their jurisdiction) and also matters of a civil nature over which their hands are tied.
The OC said that is how claims of bias begin against police “because when we advise them take that matter to LC or court, the residents take that for proof of bias in favor of one party.” He also said because court cases delay, residents prefer police to indulge into cases which aren’t even theirs.
To overcome such challenges of prolonged litigation, Mwebe underlined the importance of mediation as an alternative requiring both parties (land lords and tenants) to humble themselves and resolve differences through dialogue as opposed to court process. Residents, many of whom have been victims of endless litigation, greatly appreciated the mediation option which the lawyers stressed not only decongest court but also result into a win-win situation and harness reconciliation in communities.
The teams from BLB, Action Aid, Lapsnet, Wakiso land office and Uganda Consortium on Corporate Accountability offered a range of free legal services besides educating people on how to and the importance of verifying the authenticity of one’s land title. Lots of surveying-related advisory services were also offered at the seminar.
Action Aid’s Jennipher Achaloi said they greatly appreciated the partnership with BLB because the Kasanje outreach gave them an opportunity to sensitize especially women who are prioritized in many of their community interventions.
She said the women are the most productive in the home-undertaking both child bearing and economic production activities-yet they are the most deprived when it comes to land-related rights. “This is why we liked this opportunity to come and empower them with the relevant information,” she separately explained to Mulengera News.
(For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755 or email us at mulengera2040@gmail.com).
