NEWS EDITOR
BUGANDA Land Board (BLB), a professional body set up by His Majesty the Kabaka of Buganda to manage land and properties returned by the central government under the Restitution of Assets and Properties Act of 1993 and subsequent agreements, has launched Phase II of annual ground rent collection project code-named ‘Busuulu Kye Kibanja’ that will last for the next three months.
On 18th November 2019, Buganda Land Board started a massive exercise to collect annual ground rent (busuulu) including arrears from tenants living on Buganda Kingdom land.
The campaign is taking place in all Buganda Kingdom counties.
According to officials from the organization, the first phase was a success, prompting them to extend the exercise.
BLB teams are currently moving across the Kingdom to assess every tenant and collect Busuulu as stipulated by Section 31 (Sub-section 3c & 3d) of the Land (Amendment) Act 2010.
Joseph Kimbowa, a Communication Officer at BLB spoke to the News Editor Online about the Busuulu project and how the first phase was:
“Generally, the first phase was a success whereby over 52,000 (Fifty two thousand) tenants with bibanja on Kabaka’s land across the kingdom were given assessments. A good number of them went ahead and paid these nominal dues and we are very grateful for their cooperation.”
He, however, added: “With an estimated one million households on Kingdom land, there is still work to do. That is why we have decided to extend the ‘Busuulu kye Kibanja’ campaign for another three months.”
“We are continuing to go household by household sensitising people about the importance of paying busuulu. Every Kibanja is going to be assessed and whoever pays SHOULD receive a receipt and a ticket. Those already assessed are advised to pay all fees through the bank or mobile money. Cash payments are highly discouraged,” Said Mr. Kimbowa.
On tenants who are reluctant to pay Busuulu, Kimbowa said: “Busuulu is a legal requirement for all bibanja holders.
The law is very clear about that. It should be paid to the land lord. Failure to pay may lead to loss of your kibanja through measures prescribed by the law.”
“As a kingdom entity, we do not want to reach an extent of applying the law on defaulters, that is why we are calling upon people to pay their obligatory dues.”
THE BUSUULE CAMPAIGN
Buganda Land Board staff move door to door making busuulu assessments plus collecting busuulu from those who readily have it available.
Those that don’t have cash at hand, are advised to pay in the bank, pay using mobile money or go to a nearest BLB branch for guidance.
WHY PAYING BUSUULU MATTERS
Paying busuulu is the cheapest way kibanja holders can safeguard their kibanja against land grabbers.
So, every kibanja holder should take it upon themselves to pay busuulu to avoid consequences of non-payment.
Benefits of Busuulu payment are;
- It creates a harmonious relationship between a landlord and tenant
- Busuulu payment confirms security of tenure for a Kibanja holder
- Busuulu payment is legal obligation, breach of which can lead to loss of one’s Kibanja interests
Some of the areas where Busuulu teams have been:
Butambala: Bulo, Butawuka, Bwala
Bulemeezi: Kalongo, Kizito, Mityebiri
Buweekula: Naluwondwa
Ssingo: Sub counties like Busimbi, Ntwetwe, and in Kassanda, villages like; Railway, Ntwetwe and Kitongo
Busujju: Villages are; Malwa in the subcountry of Kakindu
Kyaggwe: Villages are; Kiyiribwa, Galigaytya, Kibiribiri and Kikandwa
Kibuga: Villages are Mugongo, Nakinyuguzi, Kawaala parish, Kasubi 2 and Bukemba
Ndejje: At Ssaabagabo Lufuka; Bunamwaya parish, Kirimanyaga
Masaka: In Kalagala, Kirumba, Kasajagirwa, Gayaza, Ndoro and other places
Gomba: In Ndimulaba, Kakoma, Ngomanene
OTHER BLB SERVICES
- Leasing
- Conveyancing
- Title Processing
- Express titling/survey
- Service on private land
- Physical planning
- Land valuation
PROPERTIES MANAGED BY BLB
They include among others; The Bulange, The Lubiri at Mengo, The Butikkiro, The Buganda Court Building, Kabaka’s official 350 sq. miles of land, Namasole’s 10 sq miles of land, Banalinya’s Land, Kabaka’s lake, Former Omulamuzi and Omuwanika’s Official Residencies at Mengo, Land Adjacent to The Mengo Lubiri on which
Buganda Ministerial Houses used to stand, all Bassekabaka’s Tombs, Buganda Works Building at Kakeeka, Basiima House and Nalinya’s House at Lubaga.
Furthermore, the assets under its mandate extend to include all those as outlined by the M.O.U between the President of Uganda and His Majesty the Kabaka.
They include former estates of Buganda Kingdom
Comprising of; Land in urban centers or towns, land where former administration headquarters i.e. Countries and Sub-counties where situated, land not claimed, utilized or occupied by any lawful or bona-fide occupant, land on Mityana Road (Jjeza Farm) and former Buganda Kingdom Markets.
