The acting Secretary of Uganda Land Commission (ULC), Andrew Nyumba has said they are struggling to carry out their mandate of managing public land over understaffing.
Speaking to Members of Parliament sitting on the sub-committee on Defense, Nyumba on Wednesday said the Commission is currently faced with over 1000 land cases in court, but it even lacks lawyers to represent them.
He added that the Commission under the Department for Land Management has inadequate staff to manage land matters across the country.
He revealed that, the Land Management Department is currently headed by a senior land officer in the absence of a Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner.
Asked by Ruhinda County MP Donozio Kahonda, who is the Committee chairperson about actions taken about the vacancies, Nyumba said that the vacancies are under their 2019 approved structure that are yet to be filled.
He revealed that under the current financial year 2022/2023, ULC has a wage budget for recruitment of two principal land officers and two senior land officers and that they are pursuing the process with the Ministry of Public Service and the Public Service Commission.
Ruhinda County MP Donozio Kahonda, the Chairperson of the committee directed that the Nyumba together with other relevant staff from ULC appear again on Tuesday next week with a clear plan to recruit and also documents regarding the mismanagement of police's Naguru land.
The Land Commission is a statu-tory body that is vested with the power to manage all public land in Uganda. Currently it has no substantial Chairperson after the suspension by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Beatrice Byenkya Nyakaisiki over corruption allegations.