The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MLHUD), Judith Nabakooba, has cautioned staff at all Lands Ministry offices across the country against corruption tendencies of soliciting money from the public.
The revelation comes against the backdrop of claims from a section of locals in greater Mubende that some staff at the Mityana Zonal office and elsewhere have been demanding money from the public before offering services that the minister insisted are free.
“If a staff solicits money from the public, they will be taken on. Once evidence is produced and it is confirmed beyond reasonable doubt that they were soliciting money, the courts of law will take action,” she warned, as she addressed leaders of Mubende District on January 13.
The Parish Development Model (PDM) and land sensitization meeting held at Mubende National Teachers College concluded the minister’s long-week regional tours to the five districts that make up Greater Mubende.
She emphasized the issue of corruption, calling upon all staff to use their offices appropriately to serve the people and cause impact in their duty stations
“Serve the people because that is your mandate. Soliciting for money is not part of the bargain because if you are caught, I will forward your cases to police, not even to the permanent secretary because it is criminal,” Ms Nabakooba added.
Mr Musa Kamya Busuulwa, the Bugonzi Parish chairperson, told the minister that her staff at Mityana lands zonal officer whom he could not identify asked for Shs100,000 to assist him with land search services.
This frustrated him, noting that he had already paid Shs12500 in the bank for the services but wondered who was gaining from the service fee without receipts provided.
“I did not pay it because I had paid in the bank. The gentleman even refused to work on me because I had no money to give him,” Mr Bussulwa told the minister.
He additionally pinned one of the members of Mubende District Land Board (name withheld) for engaging directly in land grabbing by conniving with grabbers to forcefully take land from poor people.
“He was spotted in one of my villages writing a land agreement which belongs to the chairperson of a village. District Land Board members are exercising corruption of the highest order,” Mr Busuulwa added, requesting the minister to intervene and dissolve the committee.
The minister asked the head of Mityana Ministerial Zonal Office (MZO), Mr Ivan Lwanyaga, to organize a day for Mr Busuulwa, pledging her presence to assist him in identifying the accused staff and action be taken on him.
Mr Lwanyaga however, trashed the claims leveled against his staff, defending that some people just have hatred against the government. They trade politics in land matters to paint a bad image of the government.
The overlapping titles were another recurring issue that the meeting focused on. Land in different parts has been realized as having multiple titles but the minister assured the locals it will be addressed and amendments on those titles shall be done.
“Write to the MZO informing them of all the pieces of land with overlapping titles, and they will resolve it.”
Other challenges in the district, the minister asked the affected persons to report them to their leaders such that they can reach her office to have them resolved.
She asked members of parliament from Mubende District to always ask for an increase in the land fund budget to enable her to buy more land for squatters.
Hope Grania Nakazibwe, the Mubende District Woman Legislator, pledged to take the minister’s plea to the floor of parliament, noting that most of the people are on public land with landlords who are enforcing evictions.
“We should be realistic because the minister would want all of us to acquire full ownership of the land but funds are not enough. We shall take the matter to parliament to see that her budget is increased,” she noted.
Similarly, William Museveni Ndori, the Buwekula South MP, said if funds are enough, it would solve all the challenges relating to land matters in Mubende.
Meanwhile, Mubende has utilized the funds they received under the PDM program. The main enterprise the locals invested in was maize growing and they are optimistic funds will be recovered.
Apart from a few challenges involving theft of money by Sacco leaders, the program is progressing well.
Mr Fredrick William Kisaakye, Mubende PDM focal person, said they have received Shs16.3 billion in the past three financial years.
The minister asked the District Police Commander, Martin Karekyezi, to make investigations and ensure that all the lost monies are recovered and given to the intended beneficiaries.
