By Livingstone Okello- Okello
Since I wrote to Ms Betty Amongi, minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development about two weeks ago, she replied to me through Whatsapp saying I should have sought clarification from her before writing the letter. With all due respect to the minister, I am old enough to know under what circumstances clarification should be sought. In this particular instance, there was no need.
In the last two weeks, things have gone from bad to worse in Amuru. On August 10, the people of Amuru were tear-gassed, some were injured while others were arrested, including MP Odonga Otto; women stripped in front of the minister, who seeing the situation, never got out of her car. The minister has been camping in Gulu determined to go back to Amuru to survey the land and subsequently deliver land titles to who God knows.
On August 11, I watched on the TV news two press conferences – both took place in Gulu. The first one was by some Acholi MPs and the second one was by minister Amongi. The press conferences were convened to inform the people of Acholi and the country at large what had taken place in Amuru the previous day.
I would like to sincerely thank those few MPs from Acholi who have stood with the people of Amuru at their time of need. However, I beg them to have a very clear understanding of the Amuru land saga. Some of the statements which came out of their press conference were uncalled for and unnecessary. Ms Amongi is not sent to Amuru by the people of Lango. Never ever attribute what she is doing to the people of Lango. The people of Lango are equally concerned about what she is doing like we in Acholi are. If you take the route which will divide the people of Acholi and Lango, you will play right into the hands of those who are hell-bent on dividing us. Ms Amongi must carry her own cross. Similarly, it was not right to mention the name of Dr Milton Obote in connection with the Amuru land issue. Let the father of the nation rest in peace. He was an exemplary president, a genuine one who worked tirelessly for the unity and development of this country.
The minister at her press conference raised a number of issues. She said the litigants in the Amuru land case lost in the “Magistrate’s Court”, she talked about “public land”, she trivialised women stripping as mere “drama”, which cannot stop government work. The minister is apparently pursuing a matter on which she has not been properly briefed. Amuru land case was never filed in the Magistrate’s Court. It was above that level, in the High Court. The majority of land in Uganda became public land in 1962 and remained so until 1995. It was governed by the Public Land Act, 1969, which was rendered irrelevant when the 1995 Constitution vested the land in the citizens of Uganda. It was repealed by the Land Act 1998 (Cap.227). Currently, there are only four land tenure systems in Uganda as provided for in the Constitution and in the Land Act, 1998. They are: (a) customary; (b) freehold; (c) mailo; and (d) leasehold. There is no any other land tenure system. Nobody should, therefore, confuse the public by talking about non-existent public land. Trivialising stripping by women as a mere “drama” can only be an act of extreme arrogance. This is a cultural and traditional practice in some communities, Acholi inclusive, of expressing the highest degree of sadness or annoyance.
I worked in the Land ministry for about 28 years, rising from the level of government valuer to chief government valuer to Commissioner of Lands. In those days, every department had its mandate well defined; every officer had his/her role clearly spelt out; and the minister was the political head responsible for policy matters and general supervision through the Permanent Secretary and heads of the departments. The minister was never a policy-maker and a policy-implementer at the same time. Today, no one hears about the Commissioner of Lands or the Commissioner of Surveys & Mapping.
The people of Acholi may be the poorest of the poor on earth today, but they retain their human dignity and human rights given to them by God. We detest the kind of treatment being meted out to them in Amuru. While it may be in the interest of those doing it to our people, they must know that it cannot be in our interest.
Mr Okello-Okello is a property consultant.
2 Comments
Two things:-
[1] Contract under DURESS is VOID or VOIDABLE. So bring your armed gangs.
[2] VERY IMPORTANT – must read the Full UNDRIPS @ http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf
Although Uganda Representative at the UN was absent during the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) which was adopted by the General Assembly on Thursday, 13 September 2007, by a majority of 144 states in favour, 4 votes against (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States) and 11 abstentions (Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Colombia, Georgia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Samoa and Ukraine.
Tthere are key 46 articles that I strongly recommend to all indigenous peoples of this land called “Uganda”.
Sorry for the length but I must force you to read it here!!
Article 7
1. Indigenous individuals have the rights to life, physical and mental
integrity, liberty and security of person.
2. Indigenous peoples have the collective right to live in freedom,
peace and security as distinct peoples and shall not be subjected to
any act of GENOCIDE or any other act of violence, including forcibly
removing children of the group to another group.
Article 8
1. Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right not to be
subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture.
2. States shall provide effective mechanisms for prevention of, and
redress for:
(a) Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them
of their integrity as distinct peoples, or of their cultural values
or ethnic identities;
(b) Any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing
them of their lands, territories or resources;
(c) Any form of forced population transfer which has the aim
or effect of violating or undermining any of their rights;
(d) Any form of forced assimilation or integration;
(e) Any form of PROPAGANDA designed to promote or incite
racial or ethnic discrimination directed against them
Article 26
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to the LANDS, territories and
resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise
used or acquired.
2. Indigenous peoples have the right to own, use, develop and
control the lands, territories and RESOURCES that they possess by reason
of traditional ownership or other traditional occupation or use,
as well as those which they have otherwise acquired.
3. States shall give legal recognition and protection to these lands,
territories and resources. Such recognition shall be conducted with
due respect to the customs, traditions and land tenure systems of the
indigenous peoples concerned.
Article 30
1. Military activities shall not take place in the lands or territories
of indigenous peoples, unless justified by a relevant public interest or
otherwise freely agreed with or requested by the indigenous peoples
concerned.
2. States shall undertake effective consultations with the indigenous
peoples concerned, through appropriate procedures and in
particular through their representative institutions, prior to using
their lands or territories for military activities.
PLEASE READ THE REST then ask Minister Betty where she gets off misbehaving like a woman from London’s Soho.
Forgot one more thing:
Just like Kampala administration is in flux – Fight between the Minister, Executive Director and the Mayor, so does the President wish the same for the greater Acholiland while they rob the oil, land etc. Some MPs abandon their constituencies to come and confuse the brave Lamogi people yet their own constituencies are suffering.
The Book of Revelation speaks of the Acholi people thus
Chapter 2:9-10
Jesus speaking: “I know your affliction / sufferings and your poverty — though you are rich (blessed)! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.
10 “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.…”
Think long range / long term my people. Look at the native American indians who sold the posh Manhattan Island for a mere US $24:00 yet it now costs $5,000.00 per sq foot.
I will keep reminding you that the 720 sq miles of land taken by the British for Murchison Falls Game Park must be restored to Ker Kal Kwaro Administration. We will work on the modalities. Currently no Acholi presence in the Game Park, even at the “MUTUCHI” level.