Minister Mayanja petitions State House over failure by district land boards to publish annual reports
The State Minister for Lands, Sam Mayanja has petitioned the State House Anti-Corruption Unit over refusal by several district land boards to publish their annual reports.
In an April, 27, letter to the Anti corruption unit head, Brig Henry Isoke, Mayanja says whereas district land boards are mandated to prepare an publish annual reports, 110 of the 126 districts land boards have refused to adhere to this legal requirement.
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“Under section 60 (3) of the Land Act Cap 227 a district land board in the performance of its functions has a mandatory obligation to prepare and publish an annual report. In preparation of that annual report it is compulsory for the board to have regard to any comments that the district council may make on that annual report. Of the 126 districts, 110 have not submitted even a single report is un acceptable,” Mayanja says.
The annual reports
The minister explains that the lands ministry which approves and appoints the district land boards is the depository of the annual reports which must be received by December, 31 of each year.
He explains that the annual report is vital to enable the ministry of lands adequately execute its oversight role under Article 240 (2) of the Constitution, to ensure that the district land boards in exercising their mandate took into account national and district policy on land.
“Publication of the report is also crucial for the district council to carry out its oversight role as the district land boards have an obligation under section 60 (3) of the Land Act to have regard to any comments that the district council may make on the report,” he says.
“The annual reports must conform and answer to the obligations of the land board set out in section 59 of the Land Act and in particular the annual report must show that in carrying out its functions, the board did not deviate from section 59 (3) of the Land Act which makes it mandatory for the district land boards to have regard to Article 237 (1) of the Constitution in carrying out its functions under section 59 (1) (a) of the Land Act.”
The minister adds that the annual report must in addition to the mandatory obligation in section 59 (3) of the Land Act also contain summary of all transactions undertaken in the year, summary of all board sittings, list of achievements and challenges faced by the board, and show that it complied with section 59 (5) of the Land Act which compel the board to consult technical officers in the district when compiling the list of rates of compensation set out in section 59 (1) (e) and (f) of the Land Act.
He however says, without these reports, the ministry of lands and district councils cannot adequately execute their oversight mandate.
The minister therefore says failure or refusal by the district land board to publish annual reports has made it difficult for the lands ministry to carry out its oversight role.
“The Ministry of Lands has over the years reminded district land boards of their mandatory role and obligation to prepare and publish the annual reports. The latest remainder was issued on December, 8 2023. The record shows that of the 126 districts only 16 districts have submitted at least one report.”
The minister says it is high time the State House Anti Corruption Unit investigated these district land boards for failure to publish annual reports as mandated by law.
The petition has also been copied to President Museveni and the senior minister for lands and urban development.
