By Spy Uganda
Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba has hailed the efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in streamlining land-related matters among its member countries.
Nabakooba made the remarks at the Sectorial Ministerial Meeting on land and conflict in the IGAD Region held at Speke Resort in Munyonyo on October 28.
Nabakooba said issues of food security, drought, and climate change are no longer the internal issues of any member state but regional and international issues because they affect all.
The minister also commended the active participation of the judiciary which she said is such an important player in the land sector because it is always the arbitrator. She however said arbitrating land conflicts requires a robust and active judiciary to be able to decide in an objective and fair manner based on all facts.
“We therefore realize the need for a well-funded and robust judiciary system in the region that has the capacity to network and share lessons,” she said.
She added, “We are going to work in close partnership with all the member states and IGAD secretariat in the implementation of the resolutions. As the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, we are going to spearhead this process.
“The recommendations from your experience and expertise are critical in mainstreaming and adopting solutions to the various issues identified regarding land and conflicts affecting the IGAD member states,” she noted.
The delegation from Ethiopia shared that their government has taken important measures to ensure the security of land owners and production. They retaliated the government’s commitment to collaborate with IGAD to address the issues raised in the meeting.
Speaking at the same conference, the representative from Kenya shared that the Kenyan constitution provides for sustainable exploitation of resources to empower all Kenyans. She said that they are considering peace, economic development and the environment for the benefit of the Kenyan communities.
This ministerial meeting was to pave the way for the leaders to discuss and agree on a shared regional agenda on land use and management transformation and conflict management with a set of recommendations and a way forward.
The meeting attracted attendance by representatives of international and regional organizations involved in rule of law, access to justice and management of land conflict, notably in the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture in Recurrent and Protracted Crises (SPARC) and International Land Coalition (ILC).
