The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Ms. Judith Nabakooba has hailed efforts by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to streamline land related matters among its member countries.
Peaking at the end of the Sectoral ministerial meeting on land and conflict in the IGAD Region at Speke resort in Munyonyo Nabakooba said IGAD is such an important regional body she was glad to be speaking on behalf of the so many Ugandans who rely on land and agriculture for their day to day needs.
“The recommendations from your experience and expertise are critical in mainstreaming and adopting solutions to the various issues identified regarding land and conflicts affecting the IGAD member states,” she said.
Nabakooba noted that over the years, IGAD has come to realise that issues of food security, drought, and climate change are no longer the internal issues of any member state but are regional and international challenges that must be confronted collectively .
The meeting brought together ministers responsible for Land, Environment and Justice from IGAD member states which included Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda to make a joint commitment towards land related challenges that face the region.
The minister commended the active participation of the judiciary which she said is such an important player in the land sector because of its judicial function. She explained that arbitrating land conflicts requires a robust and active judiciary to adjudicate on land matters an objective and fair manner based on all facts.
“We therefore realise the need for a well-funded and robust judiciary system in the region that has the capacity to network and share lessons,” she added.
Nabakooba thanked IGAD, IDLO and other partners for supporting the move towards resolving land conflicts in the region. “We are going to work in close partnership with all the member states and IGAD secretariat in the implementation of the resolutions. As the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, we are going to spearhead this process.”
The delegation from Ethiopia said that their government has taken important measures to ensure security of land owners and production. They retaliated their government’s commitment to collaborate with IGAD to address the issues raised in the meeting. “Millions of farmers have been registered and granted access to credit. Small holder farmers too have been helped to embrace mechanised agriculture.”
Representatives from Kenya said that the Kenyan constitution provides for sustainable exploitation of resources to empower all Kenyans. The Kenya government considering peace, economic development and environment for the benefit of all Kenyans.
The delegate from Somalia told the conference that one of the key ideas of President Hassan Sheikh Mohammud is to create a federal Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
“Somalia’s land tenure system has provided a flexible structure that local people can play with. We are committed to support the outcome of this meeting and work with development partners to see issues of land and environment protected and addressed.”
