Having successfully overseen the passing of the controversial Presidential Age Limit Law, Government is set to embark on the execution of yet another contentious constitutional amendment and this time touching the land amendment.
The plan by Government to set eyes on the land amendment was communicated by General Kahinda Otafiire, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs while appearing before the Committee of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
This was after MPs raised concerns over Government’s failure to report back to the Committee regarding the land amendment, having requested for two weeks in 2017.
General Kahinda denied reports that Government was set to withdraw the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2017 saying; “We shall come back soon because we have done major surgical works to the Bill as a result of consultations. We haven’t altered the fundamental principles, but have only modified the Bill for the betterment of society.”
However, Kahinda’s position was contested by Gaster Mugoya, Bukooli North MP who informed the Committee that NRM had agreed to withdraw the Bill and come up with a new law arguing; “We no longer have the constitutional amendment but we totally have a new law that is in the offing.”
The Bill that was tabled in 2017 seeks to make amendments to article 26 of the Constitution to give powers to government to take over private land for public projects without prior compensation.
The Bill was met with fierce national protest from both the opposition and ruling members saying the move will legalise land grabbing in the country.
In their budget projections, the Ministry is seeking for over Shs801Billion although the projections from the Ministry of Finance indicate that the Ministry of Justice will receive only Shs80Billion, leaving the body grappling with a funding gap of over Shs720Billion in the 2018/2019 national budget.
