The Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) chairperson, Monica Amoding has revealed plans to offer amendments into the Land Acquisition Bill to provide for the protection of the rights of different members when it comes to compensation.
Amoding who also doubles as Kumi Woman MP welcomed the new proposal by the NRM caucus that sat on Wednesday at State House which among others resolved to have the contentious money as established by the government chief valuer deposited with the land owner as opposed to Court in the initial amendment.
Amoding noted that as government plans to amend Article 26, they should think of providing for mutual consent among the different family members before the compensation is given out.
The women fear that despite the land being owned by men in certain insistences, these family heads may end up receiving the compensation and use it to favor their individual interests.
A lot of cases have been reported of late where men have sold family land without informing their wives and other family members only to learn of it at the time of eviction.
The Kumi Woman MP noted that the group is planning an amendment of the Compulsory Land acquisition bill to ensure that family rights in regard to compensation are upheld.
“As women, we have noted that several problems might arise after compensation where the owner of the land who might be the family head may get the compensation and take it as an individual; though the land might be owned by one individual, there are other beneficiaries on the said land.”
Amoding noted that, “once compensation is given to a single person without the knowledge of the other family members, this person might choose to misuse the money like marrying new women, drinking, investing in a business which might collapse and the family without a home for settlement.”
