Deputy Speaker’s Call to Action: Halting Land Grabbing and Empowering Communities in Bunyoro

Thomas Tayebwa, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, has warned Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) in the Bunyoro sub-region against collaborating with land grabbers and overseeing illegal land evictions.

During the belated Women’s Day celebrations for Hoima district at Kigorobya Muslim Primary School playground in Kigorobya town council on Saturday, Tayebwa emphasized President Museveni’s directive to halt all land evictions nationwide. He stressed that RDCs must comply with these presidential orders and avoid involvement in unlawful land activities.

Tayebwa highlighted public concern over RDCs and their deputies’ direct roles in land grabbing, which has endangered residents with forced evictions. He underscored the government’s firm stance against such actions.

In 2022, President Yoweri Museveni mandated a cessation of land evictions across Uganda. He specified that no evictions should occur in any district without prior consultation by the District Security Committee, chaired by RDCs, with the Minister of Lands. The president pledged consequences for committee members who disregard his directive, excluding the UPDF representative due to their limited involvement.

Additionally, the president instructed the Chief Justice to prevent magistrates and judges from participating in illegal evictions orchestrated with land grabbers. He directed the Minister for Lands to report any judicial misconduct for potential legal action.

Tayebwa called for stringent measures against RDCs implicated in promoting land grabbing and urged regional leaders to report such cases promptly for immediate action.

The Deputy Speaker also urged RDCs to crack down on officials extorting money from beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM), citing that such corruption undermines the program’s progress and implementation nationwide.

Tayebwa encouraged residents of the region to seize opportunities in the newly discovered oil and gas sector. He emphasized the government’s facilitative legal framework for Ugandan participation and advised investment in sectors such as hospitality, transportation, logistics, security, construction, engineering, and food supply.

He called upon locals to embrace government initiatives like the Youth Livelihood Program, Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), and the Parish Development Model to alleviate poverty. Tayebwa cautioned against excessive alcohol consumption among the youth and urged them to engage in profitable ventures.

Harriet Businge, Hoima Woman MP, appealed for equitable consideration of women in oil-related job opportunities, citing their qualifications.

David Karubanga, Kigorobya County MP, expressed concern over ongoing land grabbing in Bunyoro, emphasizing fraudulent land titles as a major threat to residents.

The belated Women’s Day celebrations drew participation from religious, political, and community leaders.