President Yoweri Museveni has warned Acholi politicians against spreading wrong information to the community about the government’s proposal to amend the 1998 land act.
At a recent retreat, Cabinet proposed that the land act be amended to allow easy government takeover of privately owned land without completion of compensation.
The president was drumming up support for NRM candidates for the Omoro parliamentary and LC5 Chairman seat at Bobi Sub County.
Museveni said the current law which allows negotiation and compensation of the land owner before takeover of the land is an impediment to development.
‘‘The problem now is as people go to court to fight for compensation. This causes delays,’’ the president said adding that the 1998 land act has ‘‘paralysed’’ many government programmes like road construction.
Museveni further said that the current land law slows government programmes because when land owners are not satisfied with the compensation from government, they go to court thus delaying projects.
After the proposed amendment to the law, several opposition politicians including former presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye, Democratic Party (DP) President Norbert Mao and a host of legislators from Acholi sub region criticized the proposed amendment to the Land Act.
Leaders from the Acholi region have for long had a frosty relationship with government over attempts by the former to get land for ‘‘investment’’ from the region, particularly Amuru district because of its fertile lands and proximity to the Nile and other natural water resources.
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define development and for whose benefit. Arwot ki oda. Traditionally, an acholi grows the crops he knows from the beginning of his creation, millet, , lapena.etc. The seeds are kept season to season. Now we have GMO seeds – note these seeds do not reproduce after its kind season to season – they are “kodi lalur”. Is this development. Foreigners know that god is not creating any more fertile lands anywhere. Chinese, sudi Arabia and her neighbours, even bill gates are acquiring large tracts of land in Africa, where will you live, where will you grow food to feed your growing grad children after the so called paper money (governent compensation) is gone. Without proper job, and there are not many acholis with one, what will you do. At least with land you can eat. Develop who and how Mr. President? Ngwiny cet pa lu ming.