GOVT SEEKS SHS2 TRILLION TO PAY OFF LANDLORDS

Housing State minister Chris Baryomunsi 

By Stephen Wandera

Kampala.
Government is looking for Shs2 trillion to buy land from landlords to distribute it to squatters to boost their income.
The move is geared towards fast-tracking Uganda’s desire to achieve a middle income status by 2020.

According to Housing minister Chris Baryomunsi, colonialists distorted the land tenure by giving out big chunks of land to individuals now known as mailo land owners, where squatters pay annual rent fees (busuulu) to land lord.
“We are looking for Shs2 trillion to buy off land lords and the land will be allocated to squatters. This is one way we can see our people use the land to acquire loans and transform to middle income status,” Mr Baryomunsi told journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala yesterday.
He added that government is reviewing the land tenure systems (freehold, lease, milo and customary) for squatters to own land.
Several people in the central region are squatters on Buganda land and if the proposal is implemented, most land transfers will be implemented in the region.
Speaking at the same news conference, the acting commissioner for human settlement in the Lands ministry, Mr Godfrey Lubowa, said government is drafting the Landlord-Tenant Bill to protect tenants.
“A land lord will not be allowed to charge tenants in US dollars, make an increase of more than 20 per cent a year and irregular collection of rent,” Mr Lubowa said.
The director for labour, Ms Agnes Kalibala Kadama, said the changes are part of a land policy to be launched on Monday by Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda. 
SOURCE: DAILY MONITOR