Kibaale MPs blast govt on land wrangles
By Josephine Maseruka
MPs from Kibaale yesterday attacked the Government for failure to set up a commission of inquiry into the Kibaale district land wrangles before setting up a Land Fund Task Force (LFTF).
They asked the government to expedite the creation of the commission on the district land affairs before matters went out of hand, saying the LFTF was not solving the problem.
Bugangaizi MP Dr. Kasiriivu Amooti , the chief petitioner in the Kibaale land conflict, was defending his petition before the select committee on natural resources chaired by Umar Lule Mawiya (Kalungu East).
He said the Government erred in setting up the LFTF before the commission, which was recommended by the four-man committee chaired by Crispus Kiyonga that compiled a report on how to solve the Kibaale land wrangles.
President Yoweri Museveni appointed the committee in December 2003 following a petition on the continued unresolved lan
d and social-political conflicts in Kibaale, which surfaced during the 2002 political conflicts.
Kasiriivu flanked by Ignatius Besisira (Buyaga) said the Kiyonga report was not tabled in parliament and had remained a Cabinet paper. They asked the committee to ensure that Kiyonga availed the report to parliament.
Kasiriivu said the paper had recommended the setting up of a committee, which would investigate the land controversies in Kibaale and come up with a lasting solution.
Published on: Wednesday, 5th May, 2004
Banyoro advised on politics
THE speaker of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Ernest Kiiza, has advised the Banyoro to take advantage of the current political situation and make their demands known to the Government and other political organisations intending to contest for power, reports Martin Kaahwa.
�We have lagged behind for long in comparison to other regions. We must give our demands to whoever wants our votes.
We are entitled to a share of the national cake,� he said. Kizza was on Saturday addressing students of Masindi National Teachers College.
Published on: Wednesday, 5th May, 2004
Govt will develop tertiary education - commissioner
THE Government will liaise with the private sector to develop tertiary education to accommodate the increasing number of students, writes Vision Reporters.
The commissioner for higher education (tertiary), Enos Rashema, said Uganda still lagged behind in tertiary enrolment despite experiencing a growth in tertiary institutions.
While presiding over the graduation ceremony of Kampala College of Commerce and Advanced Studies recently, Rashema said the combined enrolment at tertiary level was over 35,000 students.
�We may have tertiary institutions with such a combined enrolment but this is not impressive,� he said.
�The Government cannot do this alone and that is why the private sector should help out, so that many Ugandans can access higher education for the betterment of the country,� he said.
Published on: Wednesday, 5th May, 2004
Museveni supports Bidco deal
By Mary Karugaba
President Yoweri Museveni , has backed the Bidco oil palm deal in Kalangala district.
�Currently, Uganda spends US$60m annually on importation of cooking oil. This money would be saved if the project materialises,� a statement from state house said.
This was during a consultative meeting with the parliamentary committee on finance, foreign affairs and trade and industry on Monday .
Last year the government and International Fund for Development signed an agreement with Kenya-based Bidco oil refineries limited to produce and process palm oil products in the country.
However, the project has attracted criticism from donor groups, politicians and the local oil processors, who say the project takes will out-compete them because of the �enormous� incentives accorded to Bidco, including a 25-year tax holiday.
Museveni said keeping within the policy of privatisation would save Uganda from depending e
ntirely on export of raw materials, which deprive the country of money and employment opportunities.
He said the economic liberalisation and micro-economic strategic intervention policies to promote industrial development had played a major role in the stabilisation of the national economy.
Published on: Wednesday, 5th May, 2004
(WHO owns BIDCO??)
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