UGANDA, Jinja | Real Muloodi News | Jinja City has reached a pivotal milestone with the approval of a land board committee, ending a frustrating three-year period marked by the absence of such a board.
The decision was unanimously reached by city councillors, led by Speaker Bernard Mbayo, who approved a seven-member land board committee chaired by advocate Jamiru Mukama Sanyu.
The Uganda Land Act (1998) designates land boards to hold and allocate land in cities. The absence of a land board in Jinja City had reportedly hindered its development, as highlighted by Mayor Peter Kasolo. This delay raised concerns, with the recent revelation that approximately Shs5 billion was lost over the last three years due to the absence of a Land Board.
The newly approved land board committee comprises seven members, including lawyer Alex Luganda, Busoga Kingdom’s Attorney General Barbra Munyaruguru, teacher at Jinja Progressive Academy (JPRA) Harriet Mirembe Mukisa, businessman Phillip Bogere, ex-district councillor and entrepreneur Mohammed Katuntubiru, and businessman Joram Emmanuel Kamugisha.
Speaker Mbayo emphasized that the approval was made “in the interest of the public to end the three-year vacuum that was creating losses and disservices in the City.”
Mayor Kasolo, while cautioning the new committee against corruption, offered apologies to Jinja residents for the delay in establishing a substantive board.
The creation of the land board is expected to enhance further development in Jinja City, providing a framework for secure land transactions that can attract investors. The lack of a Land Board had reportedly led to disruptions in road works, particularly in the compensation process.
Background details reveal that Jinja Executive, led by Mayor Kasolo, had proposed six individuals for the city’s land board membership in February 2022.
However, this move faced obstacles as Deputy Inspector General of Government Patricia Achan Okiria halted their approval, citing a lack of proper procedure in constituting the board.
Allegations surfaced that Mayor Kasolo did not follow the correct procedure, and he allegedly singlehandedly came up with the nominees without the knowledge of the executive committee.
In December 2022, the Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary Ben Kumumanya intervened, stopping the Council from discussing the appointment of the city land board members during their meeting. This action was taken in fulfilment of the ministry’s mandate as provided for in the Local Government Act.
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