UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | Several MPs have called on Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to take action against State Minister for Lands, Sam Mayanja, regarding his recent directive halting all land transactions in the country.
The MPs want to know if the Prime Minister is aware of the directive and if she recognizes its unconstitutional nature.
The Ndorwa East MP, Wilfred Niwagaba, accused Mayanja of issuing a letter to all district chairpersons suspending the district land boards, which he described as illegal and unconstitutional.
“And in that letter, he has gone ahead to suspend all land transactions country wide. Of course it is out rightly unconstitutional. I have talked to district land chairpersons and I have told them to ignore this letter and treat it with the contempt it deserves. Is the Prime Minister aware about this particular letter that usurps not only constitutional provisions but also the powers of district land boards that are independent of each other? If she is aware, can she call her Minister to order and apologise to the country by withdrawing this letter that is out rightly unconstitutional, illegal, null and void,” said Niwagaba.
However, Prime Minister Nabbanja stated that she was not aware of the letter and requested time to investigate the matter.
“The fact is I am not yet aware and I request that you give me time to go find out under which circumstances under which the Minister acted that way. We also need you to take note that these land boards are approved by the Ministry of Lands, so I don’t know how they can balance. I request that you give me time to come and report back,” said Nabbanja.
She also pointed out that district land boards are appointed by the Ministry of Lands, which may explain why the Minister issued such an order. This response was rejected by the Leader of the Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, who argued that approval and control are not the same and that the Prime Minister needs to rein in the Minister, who has been making uncoordinated statements and attacking individuals and institutions.
“Approval isn’t control. Parliament approves the Auditor General, the Inspector General of Government, we don’t control them. This Minister has been seen flocking all over the place making uncoordinated statements. The Prime Minister needs to rein over this Minister, he is attacking individuals, institutions,” said Mpuuga.
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