The Jinja City council has approved the city land board committee after grappling for about three years with contraversial appointments.
The committee nominated by the city council executive shall oversee the production and provision of land titles to residents and leases to individuals intending to initiate developmental projects within the city
Presided over by speaker Bernard Mbayo, the council on Tuesday approved Jamil
Mukama Sanyu as the chairperson of the committee, Alex Luganda, Harriet
Mirembe and Phillip
Bogore popular known as Uncle philly as members on the board. Other members include Barbra
Munyaruguru, Muhammad
Katuntubir, and Emmanuel
Kamugisha Joram.
Addressing Journalists after council, Kasolo emphasized the importance of the land board, affirming that the approved committee members shall transparently execute duties. He stated that government land shall be protected from self-seekers and grabbers.
“Land board is really vital because residents must have ownership on their land and of course it is a source of revenue as the land fees paid by tenants are determined by the board,” note Kasolo.
He revealed that Jinja city has for last three years lost over shs.5 billion when the land board was not in existence.
Residents shall now access authentic and valid to land titles, which Kasolo fumes that illegal payments shall not be admitted.
It is important to note that the Inspector General of Government (IGG) halted the approval of Land Board members in a letter dated February 8, 2022, citing need for proper procedures in the constitution of the board.
Ben Kumumanya, the Permanent Secretary for Local government who also intervened the matter ordered the council to terminate discussions of appointments of city land board members and emphasized the relevance of the Local government Act.
Kasolo alleges that the previous land board of Jinja district created several insurgencies and produced unauthorized titles to people, cautioning individuals who attained titles to acknowledge and verify documents with the new board.
“Members of this committee are very credible, they have names to protect. Let us only expect the best and quality services,” added Kasolo.
Juma Ssozi, the councilor representing Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to Jinja city council, who also doubles as the secretary for works in the council explains that many controversies have emerged, leading to theft of public and individual land by “untouchables”.
Ssozi believes that land grabbing in Jinja city is now history after approval of the determined committee of educated and brilliant members.
