Issue 11, October 2013

Black MondayNewsletter Citizen Action Against theft of our money without SHAME! editorial Land Grabbing is Robbing fter decades of waiting, bar- gaining, negotiating, consult- Aing and fidgeting, finally has a land policy. But, Citizens of Life and Dignity! what is a policy in a country well known for formulating good poli- cies and programs on paper with little or perverse commitment to implementation? First of all, why has it taken us so long to complete the process when responsible persons rec- ognize that land, as observed by Hon Daudi Migereko, minister for lands, housing and urban develop- ment, “is arguably the emotive, culturally sensitive, politically volatile and economically central issue in Uganda”? While other government pro- grams target specific groups of Ugandans, the land question drags us all into one lot characterized by what are proving to be incompat- ible interests. Haven’t we seen enough blood- shed, loss of livelihood, family disintegration and violation of the land rights of indigenous groups due to greed within the organs charged with dispensing land jus- tice? The country’s top leadership is said to be at the centre of illicit land allocations to superficial in- LOSS OF DIGNITY: An old woman with pieces of her property after eviction from vestors who seek to enrich them- Naguru housing estates. Inside this issue >> selves. Natural resources includ- ing forests and swamps have not he constitution vests the radical title facilitated by Ugandans, usually for selfish been spared in these fraudulent to all land in Uganda in the citizens of gains. allocations. Some of the so-called Uganda, and the state exercises residual Transparency has continued to elude investors are alleged to be agents T sovereignty on behalf of and in trust for the most players in the land sector to the det- acting on behalf of government citizens of Uganda. Ironically, this valuable riment of ordinary citizens. This probably officials. asset of Ugandans has become a problem explains why former public land has been 2 | Hon. Rhoda Kalema speaks The country has witnessed that is placing citizens between a rock and turned into freehold with individuals ac- out about land history widespread evictions of ordinary a hard place. Our source of livelihood has quiring full rights without considering the citizens by armed forces deployed become a death trap. interests of occupants on such land. A closer 3 | Incompetence: The backlash by those who have acquired land To begin with, how can you explain the examination of such transfers will reveal a in the digital land registry using stolen public funds. What persistent conflicts over land, which become network of individuals conniving to identify a shame! Land administrators are rifer every dawning day? From every border and allocate public land to themselves and focusing more on fraudulent land 4 | Pictorial: Some of the victims of the country to the centre, people are liv- their relatives. deals from which they earn com- who are now homeless ing in fear due to tenure insecurity. The central region has been hit by forgery missions instead of delivering While historically Ugandans blame the of land documents, sometimes with assis- quality services. 6 | Farmer exploitation behind country’s land problems to colonialists, a tance of land administrators. In such deals, Now that the National Land Busoga sugar factory boom few powerful people have played a very key administrators effect necessary changes to Policy is in place, every citizen role in perpetuating injustices over land. land documents after receiving a bribe or must rise to the occasion to de- 7 | orruption, deforestation Land grabbing is a practice associated more a piece of the land in question. Is it by co- mand for and contribute to its im- with those who wield power than foreigners incidence then that many land administra- threaten Uganda’s forests plementation to the letter, because or ordinary citizens. Where foreigners have tors own land that is way beyond what they land is our life, our dignity and acquired land and displaced citizens with- could afford with their income? 8 | Summary of corruption our future. out fair compensation, the process has been scandals – [email protected] TURN TO PAGE 3 1

NOT FOR SALE Issue 11, October 2013

It’s absurd that government can break down a training school to put up a hotel for CHOGM guests staying for only 4 days — Hon. Rhoda N. Kalema

5. How about when key public proper- 6. Your last words for the citizens of this A senior citizen, woman leader and former minister; Hon. ties including schools are being given country on this 51st Independence Day Rhoda N. Kalema speaks out about the land history of away in the current land bonanza to Celebrations these same investors in the name of pro- Every citizen is represented by 2 MPs: a our country and how our leaders have betrayed us by moting investment and industrializa- woman MP and a constituency representa- selling public land to private investors in the guise of tion moreover with government officials tive. The government should use these MPs have been implicated in these cases? to sensitize the people with no partisan emo- development. Below we bring you her interview. For government to give out such land to tions. Once people understand these policies, private investors in the guise of promoting they will eventually accept them. Ugandans 1. Who is Rhodha N. Kalema? Worse still this law has been biased and fa- development is ironic. It is a shame because don’t have any other country therefore; it is hodha N. Kalema is a former Member of vors the rich than those who initially owned government must be faithful to the ideals of their government’s obligation to ensure that the National Consultative Council, Ju- the land. It is a forced law. the country, its people and social services. It they are a priority. Policies must be made and nior Minister of Culture and Community is absurd that government can break down a implemented in the people’s favor. We can- R training school to put up a hotel for CHOGM not afford to have our people living in exile Development, Deputy Minister for Public Ser- 4. Government has been giving out land vice and Cabinet Affairs and a former member to investors as a way of attracting For- guest staying for only 4 days. The best invest- because of poor policy formation and imple- of the Constituent Assembly. eign Direct Investments. This has left ment for any country is in the human resource. mentation. I am now 84 years old; retired from politics many people being evicted and home- Those who are being given our land are edu- Finally, government should prioritize edu- but not retired from serving my country, com- less. Some of our leaders have warned cated and because of them our children are cating its nation. No amount of policing or munity and family. peasants who are refusing to give out being thrown out of school. An uneducated arrests will stop crime on our country unless land to these investors and for industrial population can never appreciate or benefit people are educated and well employed. I 2. As a senior citizen, how would you growth. What’s your take on this from development. This means that leave you with the words of Barack Obama describe the manner in which Uganda’s matter? these investors will end up (Nov, 2012), “The World will Judge you not land tenure has evolved over the years? I am aware that the law grants bringing skilled people by what you can build but by what you have In my opinion the land tenure system of government permission to from their countries destroyed.” our country should have been left to evolve genuinely buy land from indi- to manage these in- naturally if the ruling governments had been viduals to put up social ser- vestments. No non- – [email protected]/ [email protected] stable. The governments should have realized vice development towards Ugandan would that the land tenure of Uganda was historical. the common man’s benefit. except those who Land was always shared and people lived in For instance, at one time I are selfish would at a glance harmony. After signing the 1900 Buganda had to sell some of my land allow to invest Rhodha N. Kalema Agreement, there were a number of changes in Kiboga to the Police in a land where a school or hospital in the land tenure system. It made it possible and Town Council to put l Junior minister of Culture and has been broken for one to buy land and get a title. up a Police Barracks and Community Development down. Government However, it is important to note that there Town Council respective- l One of the two women on the should come up and were some people (landlords) who benefited ly…although the barracks National Consultative Council invest in the social so much from this system but they never has never been put up. I was l Deputy Minister for Public welfare of the people evicted the tenants. Agreements were made ready to lose such prime land Service from 1989 to 1991 like proper housing, edu- amicably between tenants and landlords. The for the sake of developing my l National Resistance Council cation and health. tenants paid nominal fees and were allowed to home town. representative for Kiboga develop the land that eased harmonious living; l Member of the Constituent to an extent that they could bury their people Assembly on those same lands. The government allowed the tenants to buy from the landlords through clear legal processes and besides the landlord was always willing to sell.

3. The land Policy has finally been passed. This will work alongside the Land Act which is still being amended. Do you think that the land laws and poli- cies in Uganda are helping in solving the land challenges we have to date? The policies are being rushed without consulting the people. Government needs to consult the citizens about the opin- ion on policies most especially those that are key like land. There must be good will from the people. Secondly, people at the grassroots have not been educated on how these laws and poli- cies will be implemented. Remember people are partners with government in developing their country.

2 Issue 11, October 2013

Incompetence and delays attract backlash for digital land registry hen Richard Barigye, a Minister for Lands, Housing and fraud and if everything is clear for a long time. Critics cite the political expediency.” tech-savvy land dealer Urban Development, says that as fed in the system it is easier to issuance of multiple land titles Nakayi’s reasoning is hinged Wand professional survey- the new system despite being get feedback in time. for one piece of land that has led on the corruption malaise that or heard about the Ministry of expensive is worth it. But Biregye disagrees. to deadly land wrangles. Due has eaten deep into almost all Lands, Housing and Urban De- “It will help us have a clear, “For instance, they claim that to this fraud, the Land Ministry government institutions. velopment embarking on a pro- accurate and reliable computer- one can have access to the title had embarked on a title recalling “If they [government offi- cess of digitalizing the Uganda ized registry that is accessible,” within two days but it is not true drive. This frustrated many land cials] can steal money from the Land Registry, it was good Migereko says, “we want to as the process can takes weeks dealers and owners and caused a treasury through beating the IT news. have a system that can simplify or a month,” says Biregye. lot of losses. system,” Nakayi asks, “What The hustle and bustle of wait- government’s work in decision- As a land dealer who also New system to sanction fraud of land? In my view I think ing for a land title for weeks making.” helps people to register their Commenting about the new sys- that land requires a holistic ap- and months was finally over, he Migereko adds that the new land, Biregye says that in the tem, Dr Rose Nakayi, a lecturer proach.” imagined. initiative will also help and sim- old system one would take much of land law at Univer- Some ministry staff are con- “It was very tiresome to ac- plify the work of financial in- time to get a title but the situa- sity says that the new system is cerned about the titles that are cess a land title in the analog stitutions and people dealing in tion is not different in the digital not a solution to fraud. being given from the new sys- system and I saw this as a mile- land transactions. “If the minis- system despite being expensive. “What I know is that it will tem because contrary to the stone,” he says. try keeps land information that is “Actually, in the old system even sanction new fraud,” Na- manual titles, the new ones will However, six months before reliable and accessible, it is easy one would even have interven- kayi says, “The only best way not show the history of owner- the ministry adopts the new for the banks to eliminate cases tion, but in the new systems to make people enjoy their land ship. digital format, land owners and of fraudulent transactions.” there are no interventions if a rights is to put in place better – [email protected]/ [email protected] dealers like Barigye are already Meanwhile, he adds, the gen- title takes long to be got,” he policies and laws and having the complaining about the loss of eral public will have clear knowl- said. political will to implement them business and wastage of time due edge about their land ownership Incompetent staff without regard to to the never-ending breakdowns and this will help in eliminating According to a source at the and complexities of the new sys- cases of fraud and forgery. ministry of lands, the cause tem. Some are even wishing the According to Transparency in the delay is attributed to analogue system was still here. International there is rampant computer-illiterate registry Uganda had been with the corruption in the land sector staff that cannot operate the print system for about 113 years. which is basically attributable new system. The Uganda Land Registry is to the failure in Uganda’s gov- “The system was set up adopting an all-digital format ernance. but the staffs are still getting this year thanks to the World Concerns to know how it is operated,” Bank funding of Shs 63.3bn. But as the new digital system says one officer at the registry. It was hoped that efficient rolls out in the first six districts Minister Migereko says that land administration would be where it is assumed that 85% of the ministry is trying to build achieved through digitalization the land is registered with titles, capacity for its staff. “Obvious- of land titles, re-engineering and land owners and dealers have ly, we are trying to train our staff modernization of the registry started to vent mixed feelings to see that they are acquainted to procedures, and establishing a about the system. the new system,” he said. digital system able to give up- Wills Kasisa, a lawyer who But amidst all this, there are to-date mapping. deals in land transactions at Ka- still concerns that the digital sys- In his explanation about the tuntu & Co Advocates, says that tem might not do much about the new system, Daudi Migereko, the new system is good to detect fraud that has wrecked the sector

Land Grabbing is Robbery of Our Life and Dignity! are extracted from the area but Ugandans can into primary beneficiaries, leaving the land- is manifested in bribes, fraud and forgery to from PAGE 1 only guess who is behind the mining industry less more desperate. the extent that a judicial officer enters a false that is ‘booming’. Different studies have indicated that pov- consent judgment over land to cheat a client. In Karamoja region, the elite are turning Attempts by government to de-gazette erty levels in the northern part of the country Land cases are sometimes made so complex against their clansmen to deprive them of land and allocate it to vulnerable and minority are high and reconstruction efforts yielding so and protracted leaving parties in such matters land, which is the people’s only source of live- groups have benefited more leaders than peas- little. While funds allocated for reconstruc- with no option but to bribe the judicial officers. lihood as pastoralists. Today, district officials ants. Those responsible tion of the area were misappropriated, land, We are living in an era of insatiable greed in many of these areas own more than 500 for facilitating which is the only asset that remained af- for land. Land giveaways have served to acres each and no longer allow pastoralists to resettlement ter the civil war, is slipping by. Large promote slavery and exploitation of citizens access the land for grazing. and land expanses of empty land are attracting than improve their welfare as employees of In addition to the speculative acquisition of acquisition unscrupulous individuals who are per- investors. It is high time Ugandans regained land in Karamoja, a lot of activities are tak- processes sonalizing customary land. mandate over their land if we are to achieve ing place in the region without visible benefits for such The formal land justice system is transformation and development. to the indigenous people. Valuable minerals groups turn grossly challenged by corruption which –[email protected] Where is my future? A child wails after his home is destroyed during the Naguru estates eviction. 3 Issue 11, October 2013 Issue 11, October 2013

Land theft, life theft and suffering Land Butabika Hospital land meant for the expansion of the mental health patients’ facility was parceled out to wealthy in- dividuals. In a Report to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, then Chairman of the Uganda Land Com- mission stated that 212.5 out of 356 acres was illegally allocated to private interests. The rest of the land was given to up to 158 individuals including political leaders and some members of the first family. In 2003, the Government allocated 356 of the 656 acres of land at Butabika to purported investors. go live in the forest, but we shall also evict you from there: After being evicted from your home without an alternative, what else can you do?

Kololo Secondary education genocide: School How can a sober government destroy SS which sits on 10 acres of a school for a private land first lost 2 acres in 2007 to an in- insensitive: A woman and her child look on helplessly after their home is destroyed in the Naguru eviction. shoping mall? vestor who constructed housing units. Is it fair for one In 2010, the school lost 2 more acres to individual to benefit as we all lose? another investor, and today it stands to lose 3 acres. More than half of Kololo SSS land has been taken by ‘powerful’ people with connections to State House. The investors whom the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education, Xavier Lubanga offered part of Kolo- lo SS land “because it was a wetland which would be hard for the school to develop” include Kalahari Investments Ltd and Himalaya Traders, which were allegedly fronted by people linked to State House. The school had secured a US$2 mil- lion (approx. Shs 4 billion) grant from the African Development Bank to build 12 modern classrooms but its Board of Governors says the school is now left where is gov’t as all this happens? spare our education and future: not just an urban problem: Children of Kitante Primary School look on in confusion as their school with no land to build classroom blocks Even the rural poor are targeted by the selfish, greedy and It’s only a greedy government that can allow and use its state machinery like the police to destroy its people’s future. land is grabbed by Dr Tamale Sali to set up a private enterprise. for the rising number of students under well connected. the Universal Secondary Education programme. land CMI land Uganda Coffee marketing Entebbe board land Nakivubo Blue An ‘investor’ Ramez, the managing director of Ramezco Com- The giving away of the CMI land to Railways land pany (U) Ltd, claims he wants to erect a five star-hotel at $17 Sudhir Ruparelia was arbitrary. Sudhir The premises were freely given away to a yet-to-be- • Court in Entebbe recently charged Authority (CAA) was unscrupulously is- million (Shs39b). Janice Amayo, who reportedly bought the says he acquired the land title after Part of the land that has been given to this is what Primary School identified investor on the directives of Ashton Kajara Ms Elizabeth Muller Nabatazi over al- sued to purported private developers by land from the university at Shs100 million in 2002 is on the fulfilling all the lease requirements in- private developers is the 57 acres in we should and the President. A one Kihembo said he was ordered legations of trying to forge signatures of Wakiso District Land Board. Some of the land belonging to Nakivu- run. She allegedly sold the property to the Lebanese business- cluding payment of sh150m as ground , which the Government’s val- Kajara in 2012 to dispose of the premises – including Mr Grace Ibingira to grab his 28 acres of • More land belonging to the CAA all do: bo Blue Primary School was taken over man in December last year at $3.5 million (Shs8b). President rent and sh3bn to relocate CMI. de- uer estimated to be worth sh70b. Cabi- buildings, land, machinery and equipment among other land at Nkumba near Entebbe. allocated to Proline Soccer Academy30 We should all rise up by 200 illegal settlers and another Col. Museveni directed that the prime land belonging to Makerere fence minister Crispus Kiyonga, told net is said to have discussed and ap- and defend outr right to things – to an investor he declined to name. • An ‘investor’ also acquired land be- acres was curved out of 132 acres of land Chris Mugyenyi. In 2008 Nakivubo University in Kololo, an upscale city suburb, be given to a Parliament that the city tycoon never proved the disposal of the land. Several land like these Iteso did. Kihembo promised to furnish the committee with longing to the Fisheries Training Insti- belonging to CAA under LRV 3159 Folio settlement and Nakivubo Blue Primary Lebanese investor to erect a five-star hotel. acquired ownership of the prime land. URC estates and plots of land in details in that regard in writing at an appropriate time. tute. Kitubulu Forest Reserve near Guda 8 and allocated to Proline Soccer Acad- school was grabbed by city traders and As with Shimoni School’s land, the hotel is yet to be Kiyonga told the defence and internal have also been sold off under dubious According to the petitioners, the properties were landing site, Social Centre in Katabi emy. turned into a car washing bay and a part constructed. affairs committee that the Government and unclear circumstances. valued at shs33 billion shillings in 1995 but four years Ward, Botanical Gardens area, Nakiwogo • In another simmering heist, a title time lodge. Initially it had over 18 hect- The University however says that the land was obtained had given the land to the Kenyan gov- later lost value to about 6 billion shillings. landing site, part of the mayor’s gardens, (LRV 4407 Folio 12) was issued to Mas- ares of land but KCC and its successors fraudulently and still belongs to it. The land is on plots, 34 and ernment in exchange for a piece of land The properties were valued by a private valuer, Lugonjo swamp, Ssessanga gardens, indi Hotel Ltd within the stipulated 200 have over the years allocated most of it 36A on Prince Charles Drive as he began construction works Uganda received at the coastal port of Bageine Property Holdings, instead of a government government-owned Kigungu Primary meter NEMA buffer zone. The land in to ‘investors’ and army veterans. on what he claims is a $17 million (Shs39b) hotel. Ramez then Mombasa. Sudhir whowas supposed to valuer. The land and property was first offered to School and Kigungu landing site land question was believed to be part of the took his case before the President who wrote on September construct a 5 star hotel on the premise is Tristar Apparels to make garments destined for US un- and Katabi-Busambaga swamp were ac- Fisheries Training Institute but was found 1, directing police chief Kale Kayihura to ensure the inves- now planning to construct a University der the African Growth Opportunity Act, but the proj- quired by different people irregularly. to be outside the same. tor “gets vacant possession of his land” to go ahead with the on the land. project. ect failed. • Land belonging to Civil Aviation 4 5 Issue 11, October 2013

Politics is ruining poor people’s chances of profiting from land

n Amuru, a festering spat over land has been with regime-associated individuals. going on. The Madhvani Group wants about But as the leaders bicker among themselves, I42,000 hectares of land to set up a sugar the ordinary people’s lot, particularly for those plantation under Amuru Sugar Works. who rely on land, has been worsening. Failure The corporation’s plan has the backing of to turn around the agricultural sector – small- President Museveni and mostly ruling party- holder farming in particular – has left youths leaning politicians from the area, but it is bit- unable to be meaningfully absorbed into the terly opposed by many opposition politicians sector, driving them into urban joblessness. from the wider Acholi sub-region, who say it The government has done precious little to is a ploy to grab people’s land. support rural small holder farmers in any form Gilbert Olanya, the MP for Amuru, is partic- possible. The National Agricultural Advisory ularly popular over his stance against the plan Services (NAADS), by the President’s own to put the land to sugar growing under Amuru admission, failed in its duty to stimulate im- Sugar Works. Olanya and others have mobil- provements in the agricultural sector, despite ised the people to resist the planned sugar plan- billions being sunk into it. tation and President Museveni’s various meet- Commercial sugarcane growing: Once such a plantation is established in For any fundamental changes to happen ings with residents of the area and numerous Amuru, many citizens might be left landless. in the agricultural sector, many would agree, trips to Amuru have not softened the ground there needs to first be reforms in the way land enough for Amuru Sugar Works to take off. Amuru Sugar Works is to “play politics with should be free to choose what to do with their is owned and used. But, unfortunately, the cur- But as a number of opposition politicians poor people’s lives.” land without any pressure from the political rent political environment makes it practically oppose the sugar project, Prof. Ogenga Latigo leaders. impossible to realise these reforms. is a rare exception. He says the sugar project Wrong enterprise Part of the fear in Acholi is occasioned by a There are deep-seated suspicions against should go on because it has the potential to im- But Livingstone Okello-Okello, also a former suggestion made in the 1990s by Mr. Musev- the current government in many parts of the prove the people’s lot. MP, says sugar growing is the wrong enterprise eni’s younger brother, Gen. Salim Saleh, that country, robbing the authorities of the much- Prof. Latigo, former MP for Agago County for the people of Amuru. He says that there is Acholi’s land could be used to turn the area needed goodwill to carry out the necessary and Leader of Opposition in the last Parlia- no evidence that plantation agriculture, sugar into a food basket for the region. But many reforms. ment, estimates that only about 17% of the growing in particular, has improved the liveli- are convinced that there is a plan to grab the Unfortunately, very little has been done to land in Acholi is currently under cultivation. hoods of the people in areas where it has been Acholi people’s land and keep them perpetu- repair this image and restore the confidence of Putting substantially more chunks of land practiced for decades. ally impoverished. the people that politics can be a force for good under cultivation, Prof. Latigo says, would He points to Busoga, where some out grow- Where is the leadership? as regards land reform. provide jobs for many and improve food se- ers for sugar plantations complain that they President Museveni and others blame their Instead of politicians from across the po- curity in the area, the country and the entire earn less than a million shillings per year from counterparts like Olanya for fomenting such litical divide seeking to work on compromises region. their land, making them ill-suited to compete “regressive” feelings among the people of necessary for better utilisation of land, they Prof. Latigo is himself a prominent farm- in today’s world. Acholi. But, it is important to note, suspicions seem more preoccupied with exploiting quar- er in Acholi, tilling hundreds of hectares in Okello-Okello and like-minded politi- over land grabbing are wide-spread across the rels over land for electoral and other gains. Nwoya district. He says to oppose projects like cians say the people of Amuru and other areas country. And many associate land grabbing – [email protected]/ [email protected]

Farmer Exploitation behind Busoga Sugar Factory Boom t is not farfetched to say that if Over the last five years, besides the centre of a battle between civil “Even those with one acre of land are sava and sweet potatoes dropped by Busoga is at the centre of sug- Kakira Sugar Works, in Jinja’s society and over 8,000 families, and growing sugarcane for sale instead between 3-10%. Iarcane growing in Uganda, then neighbourhood, Mayuge Sugar In- the government. Madhvani won that of growing food crops which could But do not tell this to people like Jinja is Busoga’s sugarcane growing dustries Limited set up shop while battle as he got the land with assis- help them feed their families.” Michael Nabongo, a seasoned farm- capital. Sugar Allied Industries in Kaliro tance from the government. Busoga as a region used to be a er from Kyomya village in Budondo In this small district no crop has was followed closely by Bugiri Sug- Madhvani has also enlisted the major food producing region that en- sub-county, Jinja District. He says swallowed up the district’s land ar Company, Kamuli Sugar Limited services of many farmers surround- sured food sustainability for its peo- for decades, he grew maize, beans more than sugarcane—thanks to and Kenlon Sugar factory. ing the estate.Thousands of farmers ple but also sold tonnes of its surplus and vegetables which he would sell perfect soils and weather conditions The factories have descended in adjacent villages to Kakira such to other regions of the country. It in Jinja town but he struggled to buy for the crop. upon the sub-region—in some in- as Mafubira, Lwanda, Busedde, was a major producer of maize, po- a ‘mere’ bicycle. Decades ago, cotton and coffee stances defying the sugar policy Namulesa, Kyomya and Busalama tatoes and cassava among other food Changing climatic patterns cou- were the main cash crops but these that requires companies to set up have abandoned food growing to crops. pled with the emergence of pesti- have now given way to sugarcane shop within a radius of 25 km be- concentrate on sugarcane growing— But the recent upsurge in sugar- cide-resistant pests frustrated his with more sugar processing plants tween each factory, besides having a state of affairs that has had leader- cane growing has relegated food efforts until he reverted to growing opening up in the region to buy up a nucleus of about 500 hectares of ship at both local and national level production leaving many house- sugarcane only four years ago. He the crop. sugarcane. worried. holds on the brink of starvation as has never looked back. Back then, cotton and coffee had All these factories have contrib- In August, Mayuge District Chair- less food is being produced across Experts say sugarcane companies many advantages. For instance, in- uted to development but behind this person stopped short of introducing the sub region. have dangled incentives to farmers tercropping with food crops like sugar lure is a tale of land conflicts, a by-law in the district council that According to the Uganda Bureau to grow more sugarcane without ad- beans and maize was possible. This poverty and looming hunger in the would prevent farmers in his district of Statistics (UBOS), food produc- dressing food security challenges. is not the case with sugarcane. sub-region. from using up their land for sugar- tion in Busoga region grew by only But while more cash is now within The Madhvani Group’s success But this has not stopped Madh- cane growing. 1.1% in the 2011/12 financial year the reach of many ordinary farm- over the past half century has in re- vani from asking for more land to “We are facing a big challenge compared to sugarcane growing ers like Nabongo, the money is not cent years attracted other investors grow sugarcane. where people are devoting their which increased by 16.2%. enough to sustain their livelihoods in into the sub-region to set up smaller In 2001, Butamila Forest Reserve, whole land for cane growing and UBOS also noted that the produc- terms of purchasing food and meet- sugar factories. the largest forest reserve in Jinja was leaving people hungry,” he said, tion of staple foods like beans, cas- ing other nutritional requirements.

6 Issue 11, October 2013

of conflicts among communities and on forest reserves land, Mugisa ex- accelerated environmental degrada- plains that they have ensured com- tion. munities and other stakeholders to Experts lament that while Ugan- participate in NFA programmes like da’s forests’ total economic value is tree-planting. at Shs 600 billion per year, only half According to Mugisa, NFA has, of the income is realized at house- for instance, given out five million hold levels. It is worth noting that tree seedlings in the last one year to over 90 per cent of Ugandans use encourage afforestation. firewood (charcoal) from forests as However, Mugisa notes that for- their main source of energy. ests’ protection was not given the In the end, Uganda’s forest cover due attention over the years and still has dangerously decreased and pos- remains one of NFA’s main chal- es great risk of natural degradation lenges. Mugisa points out that 30 effects. per cent of forest reserves have been According to a 2010 report, encroached on by either cultivators ‘REDD (Reducing Emissions from or animal herders. Deforestation and Forest Degrada- Cutting of trees for the illicit tim- tion) and Sustainable Development– ber trade, despite the prevailing gov- Perspective from Uganda’, indepen- ernment ban, has persisted. dent researchers noted that the cover In response, Mugisa says NFA has has dropped from 24 percent in 1990 intensified enforcement measures by to 18% in 2005. recruiting more staff (they recently re- This means Uganda lost approxi- cruited over sixty forest supervisors) mately 88,000 hectares or 1.8 per to support the environmental police. Inside Mabira forest cent of her forests cover every year. Mugisa says that as many as three At this rate, the country will lose its hundred offenders in the last two trade, encroachment (cultivation and forest cover in the next 40 years. months have been charged and pros- illegal logging in forest reserves) While about 80,000 hectares are lost ecuted under the National Forestry Massive corruption, and high level corruption thrives on private land, 7,000 hectares are is and Tree-planting Act. amongst forest management offi- lost in areas managed by NFA and But some of the forest sector’s cials. UWA. stakeholders, particularly donor The National Forest Authority Also, the process to fill the lucra- countries like Norway, have luke- deforestation threaten (NFA), a government body mandat- tive NFA executive director job fur- warm reception towards the Presi- ed to manage the sector, has in recent ther polarized the sector for almost dent’s intervention. years been rocked by big corruption two years after Akankwasa was in- In 2011, Norway withheld finan- Uganda’s forests scandals and illegal land giveaways. terdicted. The executive director’s cial support towards the $3.6 million For instance, four years ago post guarantees control over NFA’s jointly fund World Bank project that NFA’s former executive director non-taxable revenue collections, NFA supervises in efforts to reduce 2.8 trillion (US$ 1.2 billion), which Damian Akankwasa hit headlines amounting between Shs 15 and 20 emissions from deforestation and very year, Uganda loses about is an equivalent of 7.5% of Uganda’s after Shs 900 million, tucked under billion (from issuing permits for forest degradation. 90,000 hectares of forests. This GDP in 2010 alone. his bed, was stolen by his wife. Ak- private tree-planting, ecotourism During Akankwasa’s reign, the is the equivalent of three Mabira E Apart from the loss in disasters, wankwasa, who claimed the money services and sale of forest products NFA board then used to draw mon- forests. If this trend was to continue, Uganda’s massive forest sector eco- belonged to one of his brothers in such as timber) annually. ey from the donor fund account for the country would not have a single nomic value has been lost to plunder Mbarara, was interdicted from the It took the political intervention sitting allowances on daily basis, forest in the next 40 years. and corruption. post and dragged to the Anti-corrup- of President Museveni who direct- which aroused suspicion. Yet forests are very critical for The country’s forests, which in tion court, a move that tainted the ed in December 2011 that Michael But Mugisa is optimistic that do- rainfall formation and the survival 1900 accounted for 45% of the total image of the forest authority. Mugisa, a former Kabale district nor funding would return to the NFA of animals and human beings and land area, have been decimated to Akankwasa’s case opened up a chairman, be appointed the new fold soon. nature. less than 18% (2005). chain of corruption tendencies that NFA boss. “We need at least 80 billion shil- The tragic loss of forests is al- Experts blame mismanagement, eventually led to the arrest of some After one-and-half years in of- ling per year to effectively manage ready the reason, experts say, there corruption and underfunding for de- senior NFA board members over fice, Mugisa says he has steered the and protect the forests. Now that is an increase in the incidences of priving the forest sector’s full contri- abuse of office. NFA boat out of danger by engaging our house has been put in order we erratic rains, killer landslides and bution to Uganda’s development. Indeed, an independent study all stakeholders and communities. expect to get that kind of financ- floods, which are all causing eco- Although the government ac- sanctioned in 2009 by the ministry “Our image has improved be- ing from outside,” Mugisa states. nomic loss. knowledges that forests are central of water and environment, confirmed cause of increased transparency However, one thing is clear. For For instance, according to the to the three pillars of sustainable de- that lack of transparency and mas- in all things we do,” says Mugisa, Ugandans to benefit from the forest Department of Disaster Manage- velopment, critics say, there has not sive corruption at NFA hampered stressing that NFA jobs have been sector, its governance must improve ment’s Integrated Rainfall Variabil- been enough efforts to ensure proper progres in the forest sector. advertised and activities such as tremendously. ity Impacts, Needs Assessment and management of the sector. As a result of such rot in NFA marking forest borders are widely Drought Risk Management Strategy, Players in the forestry sector note management, vital natural resources publicized. the 2010/11 rainfall deficit caused an – [email protected]/ [email protected] that plunder such as illegal timber in forests have become major causes In a bid to reduce encroachers estimated loss and damage value of

Nabongo disagrees, saying that you The out-growers are divided into Agricultural Market Programme in Minot further argued that besides land yields 40 tonnes which fetches are most likely to find hungry families what the factory calls aided and un- 2011 in Kigali, Rwanda on Contract contract farming excluding small about Shs 3m within 18 months com- that do not grow sugarcane than in his aided farmers. Aided farmers are those farming in Africa, Nicholas Minot, a farmers because buyers prefer to work pared to coffee that takes two and half own home. farmers with land but without or mini- researcher at the US-based Interna- with medium and large scale farmers, years and can fetch Shs 2.8m. On his six acres of land— four of mal means to grow sugarcane. tional Food Policy Research Institute the additional income from contract In the office of the Busoga -Sugar which he rents from his neighbour— Whatever their name is, these farm- argued that contract farming exploits farming creates inequality, friction cane Growers Association, point five Nabongo has bought a motorcycle, ers are part of the phenomenon that small scale farmers because of the within the community, and disputes written on the yellow manila paper built himself a permanent house and has taken root in the developing world, unequal relationship between farmers within households. of the association’s strategies for the comfortably pays school fees of his especially in sub-Saharan Africa called and large agri-business firms. Nabongo belongs to the category of welfare of its members is on food se- children—thanks to sugarcane. contract farming—where a buyer like For instance, he said, some farm- unaided farmers who recoup more in- curity but there is no explanation of He says his fortunes changed the day Madhvani often makes an agreement ers lack liquidity or credit to purchase come from the sale of their cane when how the association achieves this. Da- he made a decision to engage in sug- with the farmer so that the buyer pro- inputs there is often inadequate infor- the crop matures in 18 months. How- vid Ojwang, the Chairman of Busoga arcane growing in 2009. He is one of vides input and technical assistance on mation about how revenue would be ever, it is often tricky for the other cat- Sugarcane Growers Association says the over 10,000 out-growers currently credit, while the farmer agrees to sell shared. On the other hand, poor in- egory, the aided farmers. farmers grow at least two acres of food attached to the nearby million tonne to the buyer and repay at harvest time. frastructure raises costs of inputs and A tonne of sugarcane currently goes crops alongside sugarcane. sugarcane-crashing Kakira factory. In a paper presented at the African lowers revenue from crop sales. for Shs 74,000. Therefore an acre of – [email protected]/ [email protected]

7 BLACK MONDAY SUMMARY OF CORRUPTION SCANDALS TO LOOK BACK AT

2000 2009 2004 Compensation Police Payment 2003 Compensation to Haba Group 2003 1 Billion Training ghost to Basil GAVI soldiers 24.5 Billion Engineering 1.6 Billion 2006 20 billion 36.4 Billion 2006 Via Tri star Meant for UPE (cloth making) 20 Billion 82 Billion 2007 2006 2003 2008 Global Fund Lost through CHOGM Temangalo 600 Billion Min of Health 247 Billion 135 Billion 11 Billion 2002 Compensation to Xpectrade Ltd 2012 6.2 billion Lost in the 2009 Shs 3.695 trillion stolen Pension scandal NAADS Over 262 Billion Compensation 2012 2.7 Billion If this amount of money was Lost through breach to Rhino of contract by Quality invested in the lands sector, it could have: Investments Chemicals Industries 14.9 Billion 46.8 Billion l Would have paid 192,453 absentee landlords in Bunyoro so that their land can be re distributed to land less indigenous 2012 2009 people given the price per square mile is Shillings 19.2 million (Min of Finance) subsidy fee 400 Billion 155 Billion l Would have helped compensate and resettle 192,453 2012 Naguru and tenants given that each tenants’ Compensation 2012 to Beach Side

Lost in compensation compensation is Shillings 19.2 million Development to Dura Cement Services Limited 1.69 Billion 37.9 Billion 2009 2012 l Financed the construction of fully functional Lost via Education NSSF lands offices and at a construction rate of Ministry 2.7 Billion 6,000,000,000 in 63 districts 375 Billion

2010 2011 2012 2013 Lost Via Meant for V Posta Kenya Internet Deal Bicycles Prime Minister 107.8 Billion 2.5 Billion 2011 2011 5 Billion 50.2 Billion Basajjabalaba Identity cards 169 Billion 205 Billion

What must we do to get our money back?

Wear only black Demand political Isolate every thief Do not buy goods clothes every action from the implicated in a or services from Monday to show you President businesses owned are tired of theft. theft scandal. Don’t invite them to your by thieves. Support burials, weddings. Ugandans working Until all the thieves have honestly to make a returned our money. living. 128 For Contact, Inquiries or Feedback on this Black Monday Movement Bulletin, write to [email protected] @BLACKMONDAY_UG National NGO Forum +256 414 510 272 - [email protected] Anti Corruption Coalition Uganda +256 414 535 660 - [email protected] ActionAid Uganda +256 414 510 258 - [email protected] DENIVA +256 414 530 575 - [email protected] HURINET-U +256414286923 - [email protected] Uganda Youth Network +256312276944 - [email protected] BLACK Monday Movement Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) [email protected]/ +256414286063