The minister for lands Betty Amongin says the land acquisition for public infrastructure is a contentious issue that needs to be urgently addressed because it is affecting government programs.
While officiating the opening of the commission of inquiry into land matters being headed by Justice Catherine Bamugemeire today in Kampala, Minister Amongin revealed that government projects have stalled due to the selfish interests of the elite class that are targeting prime lands where government tends to either construct a road or discovers minerals and use such land to extort money from government.
The minister explained that this group of people after investigating such lands moves quickly and buys the targeted land from locals at a cheaper price and later asks government for a lot of money in compensation.
She further explains that the problem is rampant in the Bunyoro areas due to the presence of oil and that these people are targeting areas where wells have been discovered or where UNRA plans to construct roads.
Minister Amongin says since the culprits do not follow the law they use money to acquire such land titles
She has now called upon the commission to help the ministry find a way of addressing the problem which she says is also affecting the communal owners of such lands who are being cheated by the elite class.
Photo Credit: ChimpReports