Let Us Talk Land

My Political Education teacher used to say that when a concern for the proper governance for society does not come naturally, then it is better to pretend. I wonder what he would say about the current land debate.

If nothing else, it has been a controversial one. Not since Gaetano’s escapades in the Big Brother Africa One competition has the city been this excited. And understandably so. Emotions are easily stirred whenever land ownership is discussed. This seems to be true even for those who do not actually own any land.

Much has been said about the government's handling of this matter but it is necessary, for the sake of clarity, reiterate some of the concerns that this bill is meant to address.

Uganda has a growing population; much of it unskilled. For this reason it is not likely that income tax revenues are likely to grow rapidly over the next couple of decades. The government has to look to other means of revenue generation. Industrialization has been seen as a possible panacea to the low poverty levels. But to become an industrialised nation, Uganda must first address the matter of land distribution and management. It is an inherent short-coming and one that is just as significant a deterrent to foreign investment, if not quite as obvious as the energy crisis facing the country at present. This is the obstacle facing the government.

What is the problem with the system as it stands? Well, for one there is a great deal of bureaucracy involved in the transfer of land ownership (the register of titles, the commissioner of lands, land board, etc.). The current law also gives greater protection to the land lords, leaving tenants with few means of seeking redress for any injustice. Then there is the matter of how land is allocated for various uses. Anyone who has visited Kampala is familiar with the novelty of a private vegetable patch in the middle of an industrial area. (If you haven't been, try Google Earth. You will save about $3000, give or take.) In amending the said law, the government can, with the Office of the Lands Minister, determine and allocate which land is suitable for an industry in an easier less bureaucratic manner.

But for all the talk about the need for better management, this bill is really about money. There is a justifiable expectation is that a better system will bring with it an influx of investment, and not everyone is likely to joy the fruits equally. For years Buganda, being in the central part of the country, has benefited the most from government development projects and investor interest. In this region you will find Kampala (capital city), Mukono (home to Namanve Industrial park), Luzira (proposed EPZ), the list is endless. The fact that the government is intent on increasing industrial projects in this region has not escaped attention. The members of other tribes have taken note of this, and are not pleased with any suggestions that do not attempt to spread the wealth.

And this is what all the talk is about. The district land boards and Baganda, God bless them, hold most of the titles of the marked land in trust, and are not eager to give up any control of the kingdom's "assets". The government cannot just grab the land; it has to follow the law. With the intended amendments though, the government can have the legal right to claim and develop the land without seeking the approval of the court at Mengo.

The damage to the coffers of the King of Buganda would be significant, but it is the symbolic value of its land that Mengo is truly unwilling to relinquish. Land is the single element upon which Buganda's ruling structures were founded; their government exists to manage the land. The clan heads in are known as ‘Abataka’, which loosely translates to "Those of the Land". His Highness the Kabaka is referred to as the ‘Ssebatakka’ which means the owner of all land. To ask the king to lose his land is to ask him to give up his crown. Hence his sudden willingness to make politically charged statements, much to the irritation of Museveni. The last thing the President wanted was a public contest of wills with one of the most popular personalities in the country, but he may not have a choice if he really wants to see this bill passed. For its part the Buganda kingdom wants a public fight. It has set up the Civic Education Commission to enlighten the population on the pros and cons of these amendments. The Mengo establishment armed with an informed lot of subjects, many of who are the sort the government claims to want to help with its bill; the government has its work cut out for it.

Spare a thought for the members of parliament from the central region. They are stuck in a catch-22 situation: Do they support their cultural leader (the Mengo establishment), or do they stand strong with their political leaders in the ruling NRM? The wrong choice may carry more than the loss of livelihood. We have seen in neighboring Kenya how necessary it is to address obvious tribal inequalities. And just like in Nairobi, there are many youths in Kampala with nothing better to do than riot and pillage. The NRM has a great deal of experience in putting down protests, but the region can hardly do with another state on the verge of political collapse. In the long term, the country will benefit more from an articulate debate on the matter than anything else; it is the demonstration that in some way Uganda has a functioning democracy.

In this debate, we as youth should stand up and be counted. What is your say?

Image courtesy of ctsnow on Flickr CC.