The Chairperson of the commission of inquiry into land matters Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire has expressed disappointment with the way land matters are being handled in Uganda.
Bamugemereire said it’s impossible for the question of Land matters to be addressed in a country where laws are made ahead of policy.
She made the remarks on Wednesday while officiating as the guest speaker at an Annual Law symposium that took place at the Uganda Christian University Main campus, Mukono.
The symposium was held under the theme “The Land Question”. This symposium hosted students from different universities including UCU’s Kampala campus, MAK Law School among others.
The event was generally graced with the presence of four Commissioners of The Land Inquiry Commission who were led by their chairperson Hon. Justice Catherine Bamugemeire who was joined by Commissioner Mary Oduka Ochan, Owek.
The Lady Justice mentioned that the courts will soon respond to a recent plea by the President to settle land questions more permanently.
She says the courts in Uganda are already considering views on creating a new separate body that will make recommendations on land questions.
She cited an example of South African Courts where their constitutional regime has changed from independence.
Bamugemereire implored that Ugandan courts need to be more empathetic; address issues of thoughtlessness and preserve Human Dignity.
She noted that trust needs to come back to the judicial system with the marginalized and less privileged getting justice.
Bamugemereire also pointed to the Kirangira land case in Kirangira village, Mukono district as one of the thorns in the flesh of Uganda’s legal system and a black spot that needed to be handled carefully.
She has however asked the evicted people on land in different parts of the country not to sit back but follow court procedures and always appeal to a higher court.
