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Acholi Paramount Chief Rwot David Onen Acana (R) speaks at a function in Gulu town recently. PHOTO BY Stephen OKELLO
By JACKY ADURE
GULU. Acholi cultural chiefs are demanding that government gives them more time to consult their subjects over the new National Land policy before they consent to it.
The 54 Acholi cultural chiefs expressed their concern at a consultative meeting organised by northern Uganda Human Rights Partnership in Gulu to launch and discuss the new National Land Policy at the weekend.
A cabinet meeting chaired by President Museveni on February 7, 2013, approved the National Land Policy for Uganda. The policy will provide a framework on how land will be managed and used in Uganda for the next 30 years.
The land policy seeks to introduce fundamental reforms that are expected to help resolve the country’s land problems.
Programme co-ordinator Northern Uganda Human Rights Partnership George Pelle explained that the consultation meeting was meant to seek Acholi cultural chiefs’ feedback on the new National Land Policy, especially in regard to their customary land tenure system and know on how the Acholi manage and utilise their customary land. Mr Pelle explained that “under the new National land policy, government, has pledged Shs54b for Acholi sub-region to support the sketch mapping of land boundaries and planting trees on the boundary as they have done in Teso and Lango sub-region.”
However, the Patiko Clan cultural chief in Gulu District, Rwot Jeremiah Bongojane, expressed fears of consenting to the new national land policy for implementation in Acholi, without consulting their subjects.
“We still do not know the logic behind the Shs54b government has pledged for this policy implementation in Acholi, and if it turns to have negative impacts on Acholi community, our subjects will hold us accountable and lose trust in us,” said Rwot Bongojane.
Rwot Edward Picho Oyweelo of Ariya Clan in Nwoya District appealed to the Northern Uganda Human Rights Partnership programme coordinator, Mr Pelle and executive director of Land and Equity Movement in Uganda Judy Adoko to organise a bigger consultation forum that will bring together all the religious, political and cultural leaders in Acholi to discuss this subject.
Rwot Peter Oola Ojigi of Alokolum clan in Amuru District, warned his fellow chiefs against appending their signatures on any document without clearly understanding.
Rwot Ojigi adds: “The government must first clearly explain the Shs54b pledge for the implementation of the new national land policy in Acholi sub-region, for sketching mapping and planting trees on land boundaries yet Acholi is already practicing tree planting on their land boundaries.”
The 54 Acholi cultural chiefs expressed their concern at a consultative meeting organised by northern Uganda Human Rights Partnership in Gulu to launch and discuss the new National Land Policy at the weekend.
A cabinet meeting chaired by President Museveni on February 7, 2013, approved the National Land Policy for Uganda. The policy will provide a framework on how land will be managed and used in Uganda for the next 30 years.
The land policy seeks to introduce fundamental reforms that are expected to help resolve the country’s land problems.
Programme co-ordinator Northern Uganda Human Rights Partnership George Pelle explained that the consultation meeting was meant to seek Acholi cultural chiefs’ feedback on the new National Land Policy, especially in regard to their customary land tenure system and know on how the Acholi manage and utilise their customary land. Mr Pelle explained that “under the new National land policy, government, has pledged Shs54b for Acholi sub-region to support the sketch mapping of land boundaries and planting trees on the boundary as they have done in Teso and Lango sub-region.”
However, the Patiko Clan cultural chief in Gulu District, Rwot Jeremiah Bongojane, expressed fears of consenting to the new national land policy for implementation in Acholi, without consulting their subjects.
“We still do not know the logic behind the Shs54b government has pledged for this policy implementation in Acholi, and if it turns to have negative impacts on Acholi community, our subjects will hold us accountable and lose trust in us,” said Rwot Bongojane.
Rwot Edward Picho Oyweelo of Ariya Clan in Nwoya District appealed to the Northern Uganda Human Rights Partnership programme coordinator, Mr Pelle and executive director of Land and Equity Movement in Uganda Judy Adoko to organise a bigger consultation forum that will bring together all the religious, political and cultural leaders in Acholi to discuss this subject.
Rwot Peter Oola Ojigi of Alokolum clan in Amuru District, warned his fellow chiefs against appending their signatures on any document without clearly understanding.
Rwot Ojigi adds: “The government must first clearly explain the Shs54b pledge for the implementation of the new national land policy in Acholi sub-region, for sketching mapping and planting trees on land boundaries yet Acholi is already practicing tree planting on their land boundaries.”
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