The Minister of Lands ,Housing and Urban Development Ms. Judith Nabakooba has said that her ministry will fast-track issues pertaining to land ownership and use in Kiruhura District. Ms Nabakooba who is on a three-day working tour of Ankole Sub-region held a public meeting at Akageti Trading centre in Kiruhura District where land matters in the area were discussed.
The meeting was attended by the district security chiefs, area members of parliament and locals who raised various land related concerns. They requested the government through the minister to grant them 200 acres of Nshara Ranch for development of Akageti town which is located in the middle of the ranch and witnessing a rapid rate of urbanization.
They also requested the minister to expedite the Systematic Land Adjudication and Certification (SLAAC) exercise which is under the ministry of Lands. They also want the exorbitant fees of transferring their titles from lease to freehold to be reduced .Modification of land titles issued to locals but not corresponding with ground information was another matter that the locals raised during the meeting with the minister .
Nabakooba thanked the locals for the discipline exhibited while making their requests. She was delighted note that the residents of Kiruhura were following due processes to address the land related challenges they face .
“I have heard their prayer, and I think it is a genuine one because they are talking about services but also expansion of their trading centre in as far as business is concerned. I have taken their request seriously and I am going to write to the president and inform him about it,” Nabakooba said .
“Much as it is a ranch, we believe if some land is given to them, they can be in position to expand and spur growth and development in the area. The good thing they are asking and they haven’t encroached which means they are disciplined.
About SLAAC, the minister said it has been slow because the project ended some months ago and they were waiting for additional funding from the World Bank. .“We started on this process sometime back so people have been waiting and I think it is high time we expedite the process and deliver to the expectation of the people.
Kiruhura Woman MP Jovanice Rwenduru said she was relieved by the minister’s visit and happy that she acted so fast. She that they were at the lands ministry a week ago and it is surprising that she was on ground in no time addressing people’s problems.
“The five facts that they talked about including SLAAC, requesting for 200 acres of land at Akageti for services, transferring their titles from leasehold to freehold were all addressed. She also gave individuals that have issues an opportunity to go to her office for further management. We are relieved and people are satisfied, we thank the president for appointing ministers that are fast when dealing with people’s issues,” she said.
