The 2007 Land Bill

The master of Macheavellian intrigue is at it again. After the orgasmic high of the CHOGM has waned he brings the controversial Land Amendment Bill. The bill is purpotedly meant to protect tenants/squatters--legal and illegal--from being thrown out by the landlords.

The whole thing begs the questions: Has the country never had any law protecting the interests of both tenants and landlords? How come the liberator has waited over twenty to wake up to protect tenants? Somebody asked: Where are the tenants being thrown out? Another asked: What if I want to develop my land on which some tenants are, why would my hands be tied by the laws in the bill?

Of course, this bill comes in the context of the wondering "Balaalo," mainly ethnic Westerners roaming the country with their cattle for grazing. Why did they leave their ancestral areas? Were they chased away by landloards, and are now being imposed on other peoples by this pro-tenant bill?

The land bill has stirred up a storm in Buganda where the concept of bibanja--tenants of a free-hold land owner--is common. Acoli should not play the characteristic Uganda thing of standing on the sideline when the co-wife is being whipped. The same stick that whips the co-wife will turn against you. With current dislocations due to the LRA war there are Acoli people who have escaped their areas and occupied lands of others. This bill will make it hard for the true owners to re-claim their land. What if the Balaalo occupy any of the largely communial Acoli land? The bill will essentially protect them.