THIS WEEK: Bamugemereire attacks judges over land evictions

THIS WEEK: Bamugemereire attacks judges over land evictions

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Justice Catherine Bamugemereire (Pictured), the chairperson of the commission of inquiry into land management has attacked fellow judges for “catalysing rising land distress, grabbing of protected and fragile areas causing landlessness and a state of lawlessness.”

Bamugemereire said judicial officers are responsible for the eviction of thousands of bibanja holders and the giving away of wetlands and forest reserves. She decried the rising number of orders, rulings, judgments, and injunctions that have caused evictions.

Last week, President Museveni halted the eviction of residents in Mukono district after a cry out from affected families. Bamugemereire cited a recent judgment by Justice Godfrey Namundi on June 28 which ruled that about one square mile that is part of Kajjansi Central Forest Reserve belonged to Eria Mubiru, Vivian Keza and Peninah Busingye Kabingani, because the trio have land titles over the land.

She cited other four court orders have been granted over Namanve Forest Reserve where its titles were issued on an existent forest reserve.

The Bamugemereire commission started in 2017 and is expected to go on until next year. It has demanded for an extra Shs23billion to continue its work into the inquiry into the effectiveness of law, policies and processes of land in Uganda.