'Basama' cryout to Parliament against fraudsters and land grabbing in Uganda

The President of Uganda North America Association (UNAA), Henrietta Wamala, has forwarded the grievances to Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa explaining that most of these individuals have not received help from the Ministry of Lands concerning the loss of property to fraudsters.

“We have become victims because we cannot travel to Uganda so often to go and check on our properties, to go and check on our lands and people think they can make use of that to take properties from us. Unfortunately, I tried so much to get an appointment from the Ministry of Land and I have not been successful. They either have decided not to talk to us and that is why we’re bringing the issue to you,” Wamala said.

In one incident, one of the victims of these crimes, one Juliet Nabasirye, passed away in the United States of America after learning that her land was taken.

Other victims who have not been attended to include Fr. John Bosco Musinguzi, and Evelyn Balade who has been required to make numerous trips to the country for court hearings for her piece of land that was unlawfully sold.

“These are issues that we are living with. We go and work so hard for our money. The government begs us to come back home and invest but we are not protected. How are we going to convince our fellow diaspora that it is safe to go and invest at home when we are not being protected by the Government? This is something that I thought we need to have a discussion upon,” Wamala stated.

Thomas Tayebwa reassured the association that Parliament will soon look into their issues and work with the government to resolve them.

He promised to conduct a zoom meeting with the association along with State Minister of Lands, Sam Mayanja, to address the issues. He also pointed out that he has been a victim of land grabbing but refrained from action for fear of being accused of exploiting his position.