abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

25 Jul 2017

Author:
Maria Burnett, Human Rights Watch

Uganda: Proposed law allowing govt. acquire land for infrastructure & investment projects without consultation threatens livelihoods, says Human Rights Watch

"Government Seeks to Run Roughshod over Ugandans’ Land Rights"

...[The] first proposed constitutional amendment – made public last week – deflects from that controversy. Its impact is just as worthy of criticism and an even more direct assault on rights. It seeks to ease the government’s ability to seize land denying basic rights.

The government argues this will help avoid delays to its infrastructure and investment projects, which can occur when disputes arise during the process of compulsory land acquisition. The constitutional amendment proposes that to speed things up, the government will simply take over the land, determine its value, and remove anyone from the land. If the owner takes issue with the valuation, the government will deposit money for the government-assessed monetary value with the courts and the owner can fight it out there. 

For the most Ugandans, wholly dependent on their land for survival, this would be a disaster. Uganda’s justice system is notoriously slow. Without significant reform, a subsistence farmer could wait years for their day in court, and everyone dependent on that land could well end up starving and homeless in the meantime. Could the farmer-plaintiff even win such a case in court? Without food, it is extremely unlikely there would be money to afford the long legal battle. Who will pay for the lawyer? It also remains unclear how the court would be able to “return” land to an owner if a judge rules in the owner’s favor, especially if the government’s investment project had already started.