Commissioner John Fisher Kasenge 3rd right and Board Secretary Andrew Nyumba 2nd left with other wo
By George Bukenya
Government is ignorant about the amount of public land it posses and controls on behalf of the citizens and that it has lost so far through land grabbing, although the majority of its institutions such as Security, Ministries, schools, Universities and agencies own land that houses their administration offices.
This was revealed by Commissioner of Uganda Land Commission, John Fisher Kasenge while addressing reporters at Uganda Media Centre in Kampala about the forth coming inventory exercise that will commence early next year.
He also said government has benched marked other countries like Ghana, Kenya and Ethiopia were land tax is being charged with purposes of learning on how to introduce land tax in Uganda as a way of enhancing government revenue.
Kasenge said that this has hugely aid land grabbers who connive with some government officials and take advantage and grab government land especially that in not under utilization thus leading to loss of government revenue in form of lease fees and annually ground rent.
“ We are starting carrying out inventory on government land to curb down land grabbing and also to aid better government planning of economic development,’’ Mr. Kasenge said.
He also said that the commission has commenced with engaging stake holders and the secretary to the commission has already written to the town clerks in the different cities and municipalities and well as district land boards.
“ We have already procured a digitalized accurate system that will help us carry out proper inventory of all government land for purposes of aiding planning.’’ He said.
The commissioner also revealed that District Land Boards have been issuing free hold land titles on government land that don’t fall under their jurisdictions, something he said is illegal and the commission will cancel such titles and holders will be required to regularise their occupancy least they risk being evicted.
The Secretary to the Commission Andrew Nyumba said that government has set aside UGX 10 billion to kick start the exercise; however he didn’t tell the time frame the whole project will consume.
Nsumba also said that those who occupy government land default on ground rent and when their leases expire they come for renewal and are asked to clear the arrears which they fail to do and land is given to other new people.
According to the Land Act as amended 2009, states that, “ a lawful or bona fide occupant be evicted only for non payment of ground rent.’’
Commissioner Kasenge said that those who are occupying government land, after the inventory exercise and have not been paying ground rent to government will be asked to pay the arrears or will forefate their occupancy. However those who are occupying state land illegally for years will be given a chance to apply to the right authorities such that they can legalize their stay.