By George Bukenya
Despite efforts made by the Minister for Lands Judith Nabakoba to see the revision of the tenancy fees for ‘Kibanja’ holder to the Landlord policy, the Local Government District Leaders have remained adamant in regard to the issue.
Nabakoba while appearing on CBS talk show said that, she has written to District Chairperson asking them to convene meetings to get views of their people regarding the current fees and see whether they are still commensurate with the economic current economic situation but they have remained coy to the matter.
` As leaders we think since 2011 when the policy of payment of ‘Kibanja’ tenancy fees was put in place, things have changed much even the value of land have increased the earning from say crops and rentals have increase, the fees to the Landlord ought to be revised,’’ Nabakoba reasoned.
She also said this partly fuels land grabbing in the country especially in Buganda were there’s Milo ownership of land even landlords became frustrated and decide to sell their land to tycoons who in the end chase away ‘Bibanja’ holders.
The fees paid to Landlords by the ‘Bibanja’ holders vary according to the area and are paid monthly, for instance in villages only shs 5,000 is paid, those in town council are charged 20,000, while in Municipalities 30,000 and in Cities shs 50,000 is paid.
A recent Survey carried out by Afrobarometer on land disputes indicate that out of the 2,400 adult Ugandans randomly selected and asked about the matter of land wrangles, fraud and grabbing.
Of the respondents, 1 in 4 Ugandans at least indicated that in their families have experienced or involved in land disputes during the period of five years , while land fraud contributed 22% of the cases, 22% land grabbing and family land wrangles 30%.
The Chairperson of Wakiso District Matia Lwanga Bwanika denied having received any later from the ministry concerning the alleged matters.
He said Ministry high jacked all powers of the District land boards when it sent its officials to work on land matters the boards were rendered redundant.
“ The Ministry has failed to handle the matter of Land grabbing that has persistently eluded the sector and now they are jumping on small issues that have no significant effect on people,’’ Bwanika said while reached via telephone.
Andrew Muwonge the chairperson of Kayunga District acknowledged the initiative that the Ministry is undertaking to revise the ‘Bibanja’ fees paid to the Landlords saying the current figure is really very small and frustrating to the land owners
“ The landlords don’t benefit at all and this could be part of the reasons as to why land grabbing is rampant especially here in the central region were Milo tenure system exists,’ Muwonge reasoned.
He also asserted that these fees need to be revised since economic situations have changed and ‘Bibanja’ holders are now utilizing them for commercial purposes unlike in the pasts when they were doing activities for subsistence survival.
Hadija Nakirija the vice chairperson of Mpigi District said the fixing of ‘Bibanja fees to the Landlord is not necessary government should have left it open for the scatter to negotiate with his/her Landlord.