Deputy Speaker forms Adhoc Committee to investigate Naguru-Nakawa land issues

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has instituted an Adhoc committee to investigate the Naguru-Nakawa land issues.

During the plenary sitting on Tuesday, 01 March 2022, the Deputy Speaker told legislators that there are fights related to the Naguru – Nakawa land which have highlighted failures at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, and the Uganda Lands Commission.

The land in question was allotted to an investor, Opec Prime Properties in 2007 to construct a satellite city.
“The land has been parceled and is being cleared without these conflicts being resolved. It is a shame. It is time that we embarked on our oversight mandate to root out these vices from the operation of government departments and agencies,” Anita Among said.

The State Minister for Lands, Hon Sam Mayanja wrote to the Prime Minister, Rt Hon. Robinah Nabbanja on 23 February 2022 urging her to weigh in on the matter.

Mayanja in his letter noted that stakeholders had agreed to stop all activities on the said land for three months to allow government comes up with a solution.

In 2018, Cabinet resolved to terminate the contract between Government and Opec Prime Properties after the company defaulted on its obligations.

The government through the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) repossessed the land which they then agreed to reallocate to new developers.

Part of the land was allocated to Internal Medicine of Virginia PC which has received 15 acres and Uganda Heart Institute, 10 acres.

On 20 October 2019, President Yoweri Museveni wrote to then Lands Housing and Urban Development Minister Hon Betty Amongi instructing her to give land to the Internal Medicine of Virginia PC.

However, Mayanja says 18 companies have been allocated land by the Uganda Land Commission.

The Adhoc committee will be chaired by Hon Dan Atwijukire (NRM, Kazo County).
Other Members are Hon Agnes Apea, Anthony Akol, Aisha Kabanda, Asuman Basalirwa, Jonathan Ebwalu, Dickson Kateshumbwa, Sarah Opendi, and Ritah Atukwasa.