By Aggrey Baba
Government has finally accepted to address one of Buganda Kingdom’s long-standing demands by allocating UGX 60 billion for land compensation, as part of UGX 1.8 trillion supplementary budget tabled before Parliament’s Budget Committee, on Tuesday.
The move comes after years of back-and-forth between the Kingdom and various government offices, with repeated appeals from Buganda officials and MPs (Buganda Parliamentary caucus) seemingly falling on deaf ears, until now.
The funds, which are yet to be approved by Parliament, were included in a supplementary request presented by State Minister for Finance, Henry Musasizi, saying the additional resources are aimed at filling critical funding gaps across different sectors, but Buganda’s compensation stood out as a key item.
Musasizi explained that the money is meant to settle government obligations on land and properties historically belonging to the Kingdom but occupied by state institutions.
“We tried to remain within our means, but some needs couldn’t be ignored. The Kingdom’s matter is one of them,” he said.
The tabling of this allocation has sparked cautious optimism among Buganda leaders, many of whom say it’s a step in the right direction, even though it has taken too long.
Buganda Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga welcomed the development but urged Parliament not to treat the matter as political. “This is not about favour or privilege. It’s about resolving a historical injustice. The Kingdom deserves what is rightfully its own,” he said.
The UGX 1.8 trillion supplementary package also covers other priority areas, where government has proposed UGX 60 billion to support coffee farming in northern Uganda, especially in areas recovering from past conflict, UGX 104.6 billion has been set aside to clear outstanding obligations, including debts related to Uganda Telecom.
There is also UGX 6 billion for the Uganda AIDS Commission, UGX 3 billion for the Jua Kali programme, and another UGX 60 billion earmarked for developing nuclear medicine.
Despite the wide scope of the additions, it is the compensation for Buganda that has drawn the most attention, especially from central region MPs.
One MP noted that while it is not the first time the issue has appeared in the budget framework, this is the first time it is being given real weight.
The Budget Committee is expected to scrutinise the proposal in the coming days before it returns to the floor of Parliament for final approval.
But as the saying goes, “a promise is a cloud, fulfillment is rain.” All eyes are now on Parliament to see whether this long-awaited promise will finally bear fruit. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
