On October 18, 2023, Members of Parliament (MPs) came to a consensus, approving a crucial recommendation that mandates the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) to hold a land title under its name, breaking ties with the Uganda Land Commission (ULC). This directive emerged from the report of the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE), which scrutinized the Auditor General’s report on NARO’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2022, and other relevant issues.
The Auditor General’s report highlighted a significant concern: NARO had not transferred 15 pieces of land, covering an extensive area of approximately 4,609,775 hectares, into the possession of the Uganda Land Commission. This information, extracted from the report, formed the basis of the adopted recommendation during the plenary sitting on the aforementioned date. Hon. Gerald Nangoli, representing Elgon North County and a committee member, presented the report.
In defense of the decision, Nangoli clarified that, unlike ULC, NARO, being a body corporate, possesses the authority to hold land in its own capacity. The debate found resonance with Hon. John Faith Magolo, the MP for Bungokho County North, who argued that government entities provide a safer haven for land custody. Magolo emphasized that despite ULC’s mandate to safeguard government land, inherent loopholes often compromise its effectiveness.
Beyond the custody dispute, the committee recommended the allocation of sufficient resources by the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to NARO. A revelation in the Auditor General’s report indicated that the entity had underutilized land due to budgetary constraints. Specifically, out of the 90 pieces of land with unascertained acreage, one piece in Kasolwe measuring approximately 1.5 hectares, with an unknown value, remained untouched.
During committee discussions, Nangoli disclosed that the accounting officer attributed the underutilization of land to insufficient budgetary allocations. To address this, the committee advocated for an enhanced budget from the Ministry of Finance, emphasizing the susceptibility of unutilized land to encroachment. The final recommendation underscores the importance of adequate resources to enable NARO to fully exploit its land assets.
