Hon. Judith Nabakooba, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has told the people of Nyabihoko Parish, Kitagwenda district that government was ready to process titles to secure their land rights after thorough investigation of the land disputes in the area .
The Minister was in Katoogo trading center in Nyabihoko parish after the residents petitioned government to protect them from illegal evictions.
According to Baheebwa Longine Byagagaire, the RDC of Kitagwenda, about 700 households from six villages are threatened with evictions from absentee landlords whose agents have served the residents with eviction notices .
Minister Nabakooba has now called for a stay of the status quo until the matter is investigated . She the process would take about two months and the ministry will advise on the way forward /
“No one will be chased from their land. As government, we want a land tenure system that allows Ugandans to secure their land rights . People who have lived on land for a long time should acquire titles . People are being threatened with evictions because they don’t have land titles. No matter the results from the investigations, you will stay on your land,” Nabakooba assured the worried residents that turned in big numbers to attend the stakeholders meeting .
Basing on the president’s directive, Ms. Nabakooba stressed that no squatter should be evicted from their land. She directed the local leaders and police to stop surveyors purporting to open boundaries until when the investigations by her ministry are completed .
Mr.Ismail Mushemeza, the Chairman LCV Kitagwenda district urged the masses to endeavor to keep records of their landholdings as government finds a lasting solution to the land problems in the area .
