A row pitting the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and Bunyoro Kingdom over the ownership of some 35 forests in the sub-region is far from over.
Even though Bunyoro kingdom claims that government gave it back the forests in a memorandum of understanding between the two parties in 2000, the National Forestry Authority now says it is seeking a legal opinion from the Solicitor General on the matter.
The Memorandum of Understanding signed on 15th May 2000 government and Bunyoro Kingdom listed the different kingdom properties that were under government, many of which were cultural sites like the palace. NFA maintains that the MoU is not clear on the status of the forests in question.
The NFA Executive Director Michael Mugisa, while appearing before the commission of inquiry into land matters on Thursday, claimed the Bunyoro kingdom is trying to illegally occupy the forests. He also added that the kingdom is using the forest reserves to train a militia that they claim is supposed to be protecting the forests.
The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Betty Amongi recently ordered the cancellation of the titles in these forest reserves, saying they were irregularly issued.
The wrangle further exposes the struggle of traditional institutions to take back land they claim was given to them by the colonial government.
One of the terms of reference of the commission of inquiry is to investigate, inquire and solicit views on the role of traditional, cultural and religious institutions who own large tracts of land with occupants in a bid to enhance better landlord/tenant relationships.
Chairman of the Uganda Land Commission Baguma Isoke who also served as state minster for lands interfaced with the commission as well. He said the Land Fund which was instituted as a holding fund for compensations is unfunded and ineffective.
Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority Dr. Tom Okurut was tasked to explain allegations of illegal sand mining in lakes and wetlands.
The commission is inquiring into the processes of land administration, registration and acquisition in Uganda.