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LAND AMMENDMENT BILL 2007
Have your say
Dear compatriot,
I take it that you have be en following this subject over the past one year. I, like many others, have relentlessly pursued the unfairness of this bill. Various parties including lawyers, bankers, religious and cultural leaders, civil society and the public at large have been consulted (although the public consultation by the government fell far short of expected standards for such a crucial issue) and the vast majority have categorically objec ted to the bill. Even the few who have wanted to support it have appealed to the ones who want to make it law to agree a workable compromise, especially with cultural leaders in the areas that will be most affected like Buganda and Acholi, to mention but two. Unfortunately, the government- and not for the first time- has ignored all this and intends to go ahead to take it to Parliament for it to make it law. By the way, there is even no official Land Policy i n Uganda!
We welcome the newly announced round of talks between=2 0the Government and Mmengo and hope the latter’s concerns will be fully addressed.
We know that the Government has a majority in Parliament and would therefore expect to have its way. However, as a Ugandan, you have the right to directly lobby Ugandan Members of Parliament to have a conscience a nd not pass bad law out of fear or favour. Looking at the majority held by government in Parliament, some people might say “What is the use?” Let us not be defeatist at the risk of being implicitly complicit. Le t them hear our voice and even if they pass it, you can have peace of mind that you did what you could do to show your objection. Many of you may currently be living abroad and may see what is happ ening in Uganda as of no consequence to you. However, I know that most of you either own or inten d to own land in Uganda not only for yourselves but your future generations. For some of you who own land in Uganda you are, or will soon be, aware that certain individuals are taking advantage of inefficient and corrupt government officials to steal your land – even the government acknowledges this. When the Land Bill 2007 is passed into Law, this situation will def initely worsen.
Remember the People Power which led to shelving the Mabira Forest giveawa y and Domestic Relations Bill?
I therefore appeal to you to write a simple statement to all the Members of Parliament of Uganda if you object to the Land Amendment Bill 2007. The statement could be as simple as (copy and paste the letter below)(or you can construct your own):

Dear Honourable Member of Uganda Parliament,
I strongly object to the Land Amendment Bill 2007 because, among other things, it is unnecessary, not well thought out, unworkable and unfair to most Ugan dans. I strongly urge you to vote against it for the good of our country.
I fully support Mmengo’s stand on this issue.
Your name.
Country=0 A
Send this to member@parliament.go.ug ( this is received by all MPs. )
If you wish, please copy to: bakirekenambooze@yahoo.com, editorial@monitor.co.ug, ssemujju@observer.ug, news@newvision.co.ug, GKulubya@newvision.co.ug, bukeddekussande@newvision.co.ug, empapulazakakobe@yahoo.co.uk to enable us to follow up if necessary.
Please pass this on to as many others as you can. As you are probably aware, you can create a new e-mail address for yourself free of charge with most providers.
Thank you for being a concerned and respon sible Ugandan.
For God and my country
Kind Regards
Fred Ssemugera
Editor, Empapula Za Kakobe

"When the Nazis came for the communists,I remained silent;I was not a communist.When they locked up the social democrats,I remained silent;=0 A I was not a social democrat.When they came for the trade unionists,I did not speak out;I was not a trade unionist.When they came for me,there was no one left to speak out."
Quote from Reverend Martin Niemoeller
0A
(1892-1984) German Lutheran pastor who was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to Dachau in 1938. He was freed by the allied forces in 1945