The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has lodged complaints to the commission of inquiry investigating issues of land fraud regarding the encroachment on military land by private owners.
The army says it has lost chunks of land to investors and individuals without the consent of the UPDF while some of the land is not titled.
The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen David Muhoozi was on Tuesday interfacing with the Land Probe Committee headed by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire after the UPDF sought to present its concerns.
“We asked to appear before the Commission because we have problems of encroachment on our land, some of it being given to other people without out consent and lack of titles,” Gen Muhoozi told journalists after the in-camera hearing at the Land Probe headquarters in Wandegeya, Kampala.
He revealed that part of the land grabbed from the army is in Mbuya and Kiseka. He said that some of this land is occupied by squatters who settle their illegally.
“We want to see improvements in the way the land is currently being managed so that we can benefit and for the future of this country,” Gen Muhoozi said.
The commission of inquiry has previously received complaints from aggrieved parties who accuse some of the high ranking officers in the army of grabbing their land. The complainants say that these army officers collude with land officials and use their status to intimidate the rightful owners.
Asked to comment on this, Gen Muhoozi said; “That issue came up. But you need to know that the UPDF is made up of individuals and they have the right to own land and use it like any other Ugandan”.
He said that some of the accused officers could be innocent but victimized by the conspicuous nature of the army since they are easily recognized.
“However, it is true that we have some errant officers because we are not angels. But when that happens, there are institutions including the UPDF that take the necessary action,” he told the press.
He also said, “we are going to do more to reign in on officers who are errant”.
Muhoozi was accompanied by Edith Buturo who represented the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, the Secretary of the UPDF Land Board and the Head of Legal.